To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what projections he has made of the number of staff to be employed at the Immigration and Nationality Directorate in Croydon in each year to 2010. (117315)

The Secretary of State is unable to give projected numbers of staff employed at the Immigration and Nationality Directorate in Croydon that will be employed each year to 2010, as the resource budget for 2007-08 and following years for the Immigration and Nationality Directorate has not yet been decided. Final decisions on 2007-08 budgets will be taken shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to improve the red rating given by the independent Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) Complaints Audit Committee to IND complaints handling performance. (117498)

The red rating was given to the IND complaints procedures by the Home Office Audit and Assurance Unit (HOAAU). The Complaints Audit Committee (CAC) mentioned the red rating in its latest report, published on 14 December 2006.

IND published a detailed formal response to the CAC report on the same date, explaining what action it intends to take on each of the CAC's recommendations.

A complaints handling programme has been established to overhaul IND's complaints processes in line with Cabinet Office guidance and the CAC's recommendations. It will also take account of recommendations made by the HOAAU. The necessary changes will happen over the next 12 to 15 months.

Full details and timescales can be found in IND’s formal response, available in the House Library. It can also be found at:

www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/aboutus/reports/cac