HC Deb 01 July 2002 vol 388 cc173-4W
Mr. Gerrard

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many adjournments there have been in hearings dealt with by the IAA since January 2001; and of these how many have been requested by the(a) IAA, (b) Home Office, (c) appellant's representative and (d) appellant, respectively. [63459]

Ms Rosie Winterton

During the period 1 June 2001 to 31 May 2002, the IAA heard 84,254 cases; of these, 17,893 adjudicator hearings and 449 tribunal hearings were adjourned.

Figures prior to June 2001 are not available.

Information about which party requested the adjournment is not available, save and except as is implied by the statistics provided in answer PQ 63460.

Mr. Rooney

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the decision was taken to relocate the Immigration Appellate Authority court in Leeds; what options are being looked at for an alternative venue; what consultations have taken place with(a) users, (b) staff, (c) representatives and (d) interpreters; what she calculates the implications of this move are for the satellite courts; and when she expects to announce her decision. [64869]

Ms Rosie Winterton

The IAA is not currently planning to shut the existing hearing centre in Leeds—they are opening an additional centre in Bradford which was identified from possible options in the Yorkshire area. This is part of the publicised expansion of the IAA to deal with 6,000 asylum cases per month from November 2002. Consultation on the new site has taken place within the IAA, and with the Home Office and Legal Services Commission. Staff and adjudicators will be given the option of moving to the new site in Bradford if they wish to do so.

As part of the expansion of the IAA the emphasis has been placed on larger hearing centres. Small satellite courts, consisting of only one or two hearing rooms, have less flexibility in relation to listing and hence lower efficiency. As a result, it is intended that the IAA will cease to use its small satellite courts as the new centres come on stream. The hearing centre at Leeds is not, however, classified as a satellite court.

Announcements in respect of new hearing centres will be made once lease and contractual negotiations have progressed sufficiently to assure completion.