§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Attorney-General what is the average time from an appeal being notified to his Department from(a) Bombay high commission, (b) other Foreign Office outposts, (c) the Foreign Office itself, (d) the Home Office to (i) the date of the appeal being set and (ii) the hearing taking place.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThis information is not recorded in the form requested. Currently, however, it is estimated that the time taken from receipt of the notice of appeal by the immigration appellate authorities in London to the despatch of the appeal papers to both parties' representative in the United Kingdom is four to eight weeks. Appeals cannot thereafter be listed for hearing until both parties' representatives indicate that they are ready to proceed: this is in the hands of the parties, and times vary from a few weeks to several months. If no response is received within nine months the appeal is automatically listed for hearing.
When both parties have indicated their readiness to proceed, the IAA are generally able to list the case for hearing within the following eight weeks, although where a party requests an expedited hearing such requests can usually be met. However, where a party seeks an adjournment, the hearing may take place more than eight weeks after the parties have indicated their readiness to proceed.