HC Deb 19 December 2003 vol 416 c72W
Mr. Lidington

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many appeals against the refusal of entry clearance from Pakistan for(a) spouses, (b) fiancés, (c) dependent children and (d) dependent elderly relatives are now awaiting consideration by the Independent Appellate Authority; what the average time taken between the IAA receiving papers and an appeal being heard was in 2003; and if he will make a statement. [145396]

Mr. Lammy

The Immigration Appellate Authority does not differentiate between different categories of immigration and non-asylum appeals and is unable to provide the information without incurring disproportionate costs; For the period from the 1 October 2002 to the 30 September 2003 the average time for an immigration and non-asylum appeal to reach a substantive hearing before an Adjudicator is 14 weeks following the receipt of the appeal papers by the Immigration Appellate Authority.