HC Deb 05 April 1989 vol 150 cc185-6W
Mr. Darling

To ask the Attorney-General if he will list for each regional appeal adjudicator the number of immigration appeals lodged and awaiting hearing as at 28 February and at the latest available date; and in each case if he will indicate the average length by time between the lodging of the appeal and its being heard.

The Attorney-General

Appeals to the immigration appellate authorities are not assigned to individual adjudicators at the regional centres. The table indicates the number of appeals lodged and awaiting hearing listing at each regional centre, including Thanet house, on 29 March 1989. The IAAs do not record the number of appeals awaiting hearing on a daily basis and it is not possible to give figures for 28 February 1989.

Appeals against decisions of Immigration Officers and the Secretary of State
Lodged and A waiting Hearing (29 March 1989)
Number
Birmingham 60
Harmondsworth 116
Leeds 47
Manchester 29
Thanet House 783
Appeals against decisions of Entry Clearance Officers Lodged and Awaiting Hearing (29 March 1989)
Number
Birmingham 245
Harmondsworth 396
Leeds 192
Manchester 259
Thanet House 500

Note: The figures above refer to the number of cases rather than appeals because related appeals are often dealt with together.

The average length of time between the lodging and hearing of an appeal, which is the same for all IAA centres, is as follows:

  1. (a) From receipt of the notice of appeal to despatch to the IAA:—
    1. (i) For appeals against ECO decisions—3 to 6 months;
    2. (ii) For appeals against Immigration Officer decisions—6 weeks;
    3. (iii) For appeals against Secretary of State decisions—5 to 6 months.
  2. (b) From receipt of the notice of appeal by the IAA to (i) registration in Immigration Officer and Secretary of State cases—up to 4 weeks; (ii) despatch of the appeal papers in other cases to both parties' representatives in the UK—4 to 8 weeks.
  3. (c) From receipt of papers by both parties' representatives (in appeals against ECO decisions) to the issue by each party of a certificate of readiness to proceed: this is the hands of the parties and times 186 vary from a few weeks to several months and, if no response is received within nine months, the appeal is automatically listed for hearing.
  4. (d) From certificate of readiness to proceed to the hearing date: up to 6 weeks, but longer where the parties request adjournment.

Mr. Darling

To ask the Attorney-General, if the Lord Chancellor has any proposals to amend the rules governing the operation of immigration appeal tribunals: and what consultations he has held in that regard.

The Attorney-General

The Lord Chancellor has no proposals at present to amend the rules governing the operation of the immigration appellate authorities. Officials of his Department regularly consult, and are consulted by, officials of the Home Office and Foreign and Commonwealth Office on the operation of the IAAs. These consultations will continue.

Mr. Darling

To ask the Attorney-General how many immigration appeals are currently awaiting hearing; and what is the average time between lodging an appeal and its being heard.

The Attorney-General

The information requested is as follows:

  1. (i) Number of cases waiting to be listed in appeals to the adjudicators against immigration officer/Secretary of State decisions.—48
  2. (ii) Number of cases already listed in appeals to the adjudicators against immigration officer and Secretary of State decisions.—987
  3. (iii) Number of cases awaiting to be listed in appeals to the adjudicators against ECO decisions.—175
  4. (iv) Number of cases already listed in appeals to the adjudicators against ECO decisions.—1,417
  5. (v) Number of cases waiting to be listed in appeals to the immigration appeal tribunal (at the end of February 1989).—150
  6. (vi) Number of cases already listed in appeals to the IAT (at the end of February 1989).—100

The figures above refer to the number of cases rather than appeals because related appeals are often dealt with together.

For the average time between lodging an appeal and it being heard, I refer the hon. Member to my answer to his question on the average time between the lodging and hearing of appeals by adjudicators in the regions.