[3] In this capacity, ASIC distinguishes colleges that actually provide educational services from bogus institutions that allow international students to obtain fraudulent visas.

[6][7] The article stated that the newspaper had "established that the Home Office received, and ignored, concerns about ASIC and Dimmock before it granted the company a contract.

Northumbria University wrote to the UK Home Office in May 2007 to question the role the company was about to be given in distinguishing between genuine and bogus colleges.

In a letter to the Home Affairs Committee, Advocacy UK wrote: "There is a lack of information and transparency about [ASIC's] management, governance, and financial structures.

"[6] The government response to this was a statement that the 2007 decision was made on the basis of the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills's report that they were satisfied with the way ASIC was operating.