Written question asked by Barbara Roche (Labour) on Wednesday, 19 January 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 26 January 2005. It was answered by Lord Browne of Ladyton (Labour) on Wednesday, 26 January 2005 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, who compiles the information in the Home Office Country Information Policy Unit reports that are referenced by asylum adjudicators and Home Office officials; and what their research and professional qualifications are. - Inc ref to 8 September 2004, 424 c119WS.

Answer: Mrs. Roche: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who compiles the information in the Home Office Country Information Policy Unit reports that are referenced by asylum adjudicators and Home Office officials; and what their research and professional qualifications are. [210764] Mr. Browne: The Home Office Country Information and Policy Unit (CIPU) is staffed by generalist civil servants. Although aptitude for research is an important element in selection of staff, it has not been considered necessary to staff the unit with professionally qualified researchers. This is because CIPU does not undertake "primary" research. The country information material it produces is "secondary" research--identifying and providing a summary of primary research carried out by others. The independent Advisory Panel on Country Information (APCI) has recommended that CIPU's research skills be strengthened by the introduction of professional research staff who would have supervisory, control and monitoring tasks in the preparation of Country Reports and other country information outputs. This recommendation is being addressed in the context of the reorganisation of CIPU's functions that I announced on 8 September 2004, Official Report, column 119WS.

Secondary information