HC Deb 15 January 2002 vol 378 cc190-2W
Mr. Malins

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state against each category of appeal, and for the last full year for which records are kept,(a) the (i) target and (ii) actual time for dispatch of explanatory statements by entry clearance officers from notification by unsuccessful applicants of their notice of appeal, (b) the time such statements are held in the Home Office before being sent to the Immigration Appellate Authority and (c) for what reason figures are not published in the Home Office annual report; what proposals he has for reducing the delay; and if he will make a statement. [25349]

Angela Eagle

The target time for dispatch of explanatory statements from entry clearance posts to the Home Office is one month from receipt of the notice of appeal for non-settlement applications and three months for settlement applications. Information on the actual time for dispatch is not available.

Information on the time such statements are with the Home Office is not recorded centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

These figures were not published in the last Home Office report as they do not measure performance against a Public Service Agreement or Home Office target.

The scope for reducing timescales will be kept under review as part of the substantial expansion in appeals capacity announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department on 29 October 2001.