Dr Nicholas Norwell, a medicolegal adviser from the Medical Defence Union, which represents and helps doctors facing complaints and legal action, also criticised the delays which left complaints "hanging over" doctors for up to three years in a few cases.

BBC: Complaints against GPs rise

"It's rather misleading and a loophole we think must be closed, " said Dr Helen Ferrier, food science adviser to the National Farmers' Union.

BBC: Last Updated: Friday, 4 March 2005, 17:15 GMT

An adviser in the university or students' union can take you through the system in full if you have further questions.

BBC: Student finances: your questions answered

The union claims telephone calls to JobCentres are going unanswered, while people are having to wait hours to see an adviser.

BBC: NEWS | UK | JobCentre staff in 48-hour strike

The documents started the hunt for spies such as Kim Philby, a British foreign-policy adviser, and Klaus Fuchs, a scientist passing on technical details about the atom bomb to the Soviet Union.

ECONOMIST: Svetlana Gouzenko

Mr Helbawy's job in Afghanistan had been to work with Mawdudi's followers and, as an adviser, he came to meet Bin Laden whose reputation has been forged during the defeat of the Soviet Union.

BBC: NEWS | UK | How Islam got political: Afghanistan