Written question asked by Keith Vaz (Labour) on Monday, 22 July 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 24 September 2002. It was answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster (Labour) on Tuesday, 24 September 2002 on behalf of the Lord Chancellor's Department.

Lord Chancellors Dept

Question: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what plans he has to open additional IATs. - Inc figures.

Answer: Keith Vaz: :To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to open additional IATs. [73048] Ms Rosie Winterton: :Currently there are no plans to open new Immigration Appeal Tribunal (IAT) premises. At present all IAT hearings are conducted from Field House in London. However, there are extensive plans to open new Adjudicator hearing centres as part of the Immigration Appellate Authorities' (IAA) expansion programme. The IAA has been tasked with increasing its capacity from the current 4,500 asylum appeals per month to 6,000 cases per month from November 2002. Centres are planned for Newport, Stoke-on-Trent, North Shields, Bradford and Manchester, opening between November 2002 and June 2003. In addition to the new locations, the hearing capacities of existing centres in Birmingham and Hatton Cross are being increased. The precise timescales for the expansion programme remain subject to lease and planning considerations. The capacity of the IAT will also need to increase, but this will not require accommodation outside its London base.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 73048; 390 c13W;390 c453W
Session: 2001-02
Subjects: Appeals Asylum Immigration Offices Immigration Adjudicators Immigration Appeal Tribunal Immigration Appellate Authority
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk