Once again there is a growing list of questions for Sayeeda Warsi over one of her friends. The bitter former Tory Chairman has been keeping schtum after eyebrows were raised when her ally got a lucrative contract from Department of Local Governement that was not publicly put out to tender. The Curzon Institute’s sole director is Afzal Amin and was awarded £120,000 last year, despite him being the Tory candidate in Dudley. It was covered by Warsi’s patch as Minister for Faith and Communities.

As Guido revealed in the Sun yesterday, mysteriously, no minutes were kept of three meetings Amin attended at the DCLG before the contract was awarded last summer so we have no idea how or why the decision was made to award his company the cash.

“It’s a tale of dodgy and dodgier,” whispers one Tory source, weary of yet another scandal involving the bungling Baroness, “but no doubt this one will be scrubbed from her upcoming diaries.” Amin has since endeared himself to the party leadership by accusing the Tories of not doing enough for ethnic minorities, in a very public attack that insiders say has Warsi’s fingerprints all over it.

All of this leaves Guido wondering:

• What were the criteria for awarding the Curzon Institute the contract?
• What experience did the company have providing government services?
• How many times did Warsi meet Mr Amin privately before meetings at DCLG?
• How many staff does the Curzon Institute employ to implement this government contract, and who are they?
• By how much is Tory candidate Mr Amin renumerated Curzon Institute?

If anyone can find the ‘Senior’ Minister of State, perhaps they might like to have a word…