§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the average time taken was between an asylum appeal and (b) a non-asylum immigration appeal being referred by the Home Office to the appellate authorities and the determination of that appeal in (i) 1997–1998, (ii) 1998–1999, (iii) 1999–2000 and (iv) 2000–01 to date; and if he will make a statement. [139372]
§ Jane KennedyWaiting time information is available from 1999–2000. The waiting time for asylum and non-asylum appeals from receipt by the IAA to promulgation of the adjudicator's decision, in 1999–2000 was 10.7 weeks and 12.3 weeks respectively. The waiting time for 2000–2001 to 31 October is 19 and 18.8 weeks respectively.
The increased waiting times are as a consequence of the increase in asylum appeals. The Lord Chancellor expects to meet his target to dispose of 65 per cent. of appeals through both tiers of the system within four months from April 2002.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he expects to meet his target for reducing the average duration of an asylum appeal to four months. [139379]
§ Jane KennedyFor the current financial year, the Immigration Appellate Authority's target is an average waiting time for appeals before adjudicators of 16 weeks. The Lord Chancellor's Departments Service Delivery agreement sets a different target covering both ties of the appeal process. The target is to dispose of at least 65 per cent. of appeals within four months from April 2002. The Lord Chancellor expects this target to be met.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many adjudicators are available to hear asylum and immigration appeals; what plans he has to review that number; and if he will make a statement. [139374]
§ Jane KennedyThere are currently 75 full-time and 311 part-time adjudicators available to hear asylum and immigration appeals. This represents an increase of 27 full—time (64 per cent.) and 121 part-time adjudicators (64 per cent.) since 1 April 1999. A further 26 full-time adjudicators are in the process of being appointed and recruitment is under way to appoint a further 200 part-time adjudicators. The Lord Chancellor keeps the numbers under constant review to ensure that sufficient judiciary are available to hear asylum appeals.
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§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many(a) asylum appeals and (b) non-asylum immigration appeals, were awaiting determination on (i) 1 April 2000 and (ii) the most recent date for which information is available. [139380]
§ Jane KennedyThe table shows appeals at the Immigration Appellate Authority at 1 April and 31 October 2000 (the most recent date for which information is available).
Asylum workload has increased by 181 per cent. over that period to a level of broadly 3,600 cases a month. The number of outstanding cases is consistent with the number of cases that will inevitably be in the system at any one time, given the higher workload and an average disposal time of around four months.
1 April 2000 31 October 2000 Asylum 3,805 14,216 Non-asylum 2,827 2,522
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the average cost to his Department is of(a) an asylum appeal and (b) a non-asylum immigration appeal; and if he will make a statement. [139376]
§ Jane KennedySeparate average cost for asylum and non-asylum average costs are unavailable. The average unit cost to the Immigration Appellate Authority, excluding accommodation and overhead costs, for all types of appeal is £375.