HC Deb 19 November 1998 vol 319 cc722-3W
Mr. Allan

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department for what reasons the Chief Adjudicator of the Immigration Appellate Authority transferred asylum appeals out of London to provincial hearing centres. [60255]

Mr. Hoon

The Chief Adjudicator considers that it is in the appellant's best interest that a claim falling within the Refugee Convention is recognised as soon as possible, just as it is in the public interest that claims not falling within the Convention are similarly determined within a reasonable time. Therefore it was unreasonable for appellants to wait for up to a year for a hearing in London, when hearing dates were available in provincial centres within six to eight weeks.

Mr. Allan

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department which interested parties the Chief Adjudicator of the Immigration Appellate Authority consulted before bringing forward asylum appeals and transferring asylum appeals to provincial hearing centres. [60257]

Mr. Hoon

The proposal was discussed at an Immigration Appellate Authority Users Meeting in July which was attended by representatives from the Refugee Legal Centre, Immigration Advisory Service, the Immigration Law Practioners' Association and other interested parties.

Mr. Allan

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what studies are being made of the effects on asylum seekers of the transfer of asylum appeals to provincial hearing centres. [60256]

Mr. Hoon

Although no study has yet taken place by the Immigration Appellate Authority it is monitoring the extent to which appellants whose cases are transferred are unrepresented at their hearing. The hearings of the transferred cases have only just started so it is too soon to draw any conclusions.

Mr. Allan

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what monitoring he is carrying out of the effect that bringing forward appeals is having on the Refugee Legal Centre. [60254]

Mr. Hoon

No monitoring is being carried out by the Lord Chancellor's Department. It is for the Refugee Legal Centre to notify the Immigration Appellate Authority of any problems that this policy causes them.

Mr. Allan

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what monitoring he is carrying out of the effect that transfer of asylum appeals to provincial centres is having on legal representation at asylum appeals. [60253]

Mr. Hoon

The Immigration Appellate Authority is keeping a record of the number of appellants whose cases are transferred and who are unrepresented at their hearings. However, the hearings of the transferred cases have only just started so it is too soon to draw any conclusions about the effect on legal representation. The information will be used to report to the Chief Adjudicator on the effect of the initiative.