asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many staff at the Immigration and Nationality Directorate have been disciplined in the past 12 months for improper practices in the handling of asylum and immigration applications.[HL6885]

We do not categorise discipline offences in this way, but interpretation of our records shows that, of the 18,064 employed, 16 employees have been disciplined for misconduct related to the improper handling of cases or immigration offences or the provision of unauthorised advice to help individuals to make their applications over the 12 months ending 13 July 2006.