Sir, Not for the first time there has been an outbreak of candour at the Home Office shortly after an election.

The report last November of the Prison and Probation Service Ombudsman into the Yarl’s Wood asylum centre fire revealed that in the run-up to the election of 2001 the then Home Secretary had used a figure for the number of failed asylum-seekers to be removed which was well beyond current delivery. The figure appeared to be based on little substance, but looked tough. However, a senior Home Office official was quoted by the ombudsman as saying that reasoned debate upon it was “forbidden”, those wanting to do so being labelled “troublemakers” and “not one of us”.

The dubious figure was used during the 2001 campaign. Immediately after the election the Permanent Secretary at the Home Office advised the incoming Home Secretary that the quoted target was unachievable.

It defies credulity that this was not known by ministers during that election, just as it defies credulity now that the figures of illegal migrants revealed last week (report, July 1) were unknown to the Government when questioned upon them weeks ago.

I believe the Government is coming dangerously close to compromising the integrity and independence of its civil servants by involving them in such practices. It is time for an inquiry into the abuse of statistics and of those who compile them.

ALISTAIR BURT
House of Commons

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