§ Mr. Robin F. Cookasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what he is doing to speed up the machinery for hearing appeals against refusal to extend or vary a permit to stay in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsSteps have been taken to increase the staff dealing with immigration appeals, and to introduce certain procedural simplifications in the Home Office. In addition, more adjudicators have been appointed on a part time basis. I am considering whether further improvements are possible in the longer term.
§ Mr. CookWill my right hon. Friend accept that that answer will be very welcome to the many citizens who, for anything up to a year, have been living under the threat of deportation? Has he seen my correspondence with his hon. Friend the Minister of State concerning a constituent of mine who is a West Bank Palestinian and who, unless he visits his country this summer, will lose his residential qualification, but cannot leave this country until his appeal has been heard? Will my right hon. Friend consider instituting an emergency procedure for advancing appeals in such cases? Is there any real purpose in refusing a year's extension permit if it takes 10 months to crank it through the appeals machinery?
§ Mr. JenkinsThe delay arises because the appeals machinery is being used increasingly. Additional staff are being appointed in both the Midlands and the North. One has recently been appointed in Scotland. I am aware of the particular difficulties to which my hon. Friend refers. Whether it would be possible to treat someone in this position out of turn raises certain difficulties, but I am prepared to look into the matter.