HC Deb 19 January 2004 vol 416 c978W
Mr. Malins

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what percentage of immigration and asylum appeals before adjudicators his Department was(a) represented by Home Office Presenting Officers, (b) represented by Counsel and (c) not represented in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [143360]

Beverley Hughes

For the 12 month period to August 2003 the level of representation for Presenting Officers and Counsel when taken together was 72 per cent. This relatively low level of representation was caused, in large part, by difficulties in recruiting Presenting Officers, particularly in the London area. The level of representation will increase early in 2004 as up to 65 newly recruited Presenting Officers complete their training and take up their posts.