HC Deb 23 March 2000 vol 346 cc686-7W
Mr. Lidington

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what, during the last five years for which figures are available, what was the(a) longest and (b) average time an ultimately (i) unsuccessful and (ii) successful application for judicial review of an asylum decision was before the courts. [115976]

Jane Kennedy

This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Lidington

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many applications for judicial review of asylum decisions were made in each of the last five years for which figures are available; how many were granted a substantive hearing; how many applications were granted (a) initially and (b) on appeal; what was the total cost to public funds of such applications and appeals in each year; on how many occasions Queen's Counsel were employed by (i) him and (ii) the applicant; and if he will make a statement. [115971]

Jane Kennedy

The information on the numbers of applications received in 1999 and 1998 is set out in the table. The remaining information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

1998 1999
Receipts 1,874 2,170
Leave granted on initial application 308 436
Leave granted on oral hearing 36 42
Applications allowed (following substantive hearing) 173 175