§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
How frequently during each of the last three years have asylum appeals been decided by adjudicators in the absence of Home Office presenting officers; and [HL1033]
Whether they consider that Home Office presenting officers should participate in all asylum appeals; and, if not, what they consider should be the practice. [HL1034]
43WA
§ The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal)Latest available figures show that, for the 12-month period to August 2003, the Home Office was not represented in up to 28 per cent of asylum appeals being heard by adjudicators at the Immigration Appellate Authority (IAA).
Statistics are not available for earlier periods.
We aim to provide representation in 95 per cent of all appeals, including asylum appeals, being heard by adjudicators at the IAA. It has been difficult to recruit sufficient numbers of presenting officers, particularly in the London area, which accounts for the majority of cases. However, action is in hand to address this and a further 65 presenting officers will be in post by mid-March 2004.