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Lord Chancellors Dept

Answer

Mr. Rooney: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the decision was taken to relocate the Immigration Appellate Authority court in Leeds; what options are being looked at for an alternative venue; what consultations have taken place with (a) users, (b) staff, (c) representatives and (d) interpreters; what she calculates the implications of this move are for the satellite courts; and when she expects to announce her decision. [64869] Ms Rosie Winterton: The IAA is not currently planning to shut the existing hearing centre in Leeds-- they are opening an additional centre in Bradford which was identified from possible options in the Yorkshire area. This is part of the publicised expansion of the IAA to deal with 6,000 asylum cases per month from November 2002. Consultation on the new site has taken place within the IAA, and with the Home Office and Legal Services Commission. Staff and adjudicators will be given the option of moving to the new site in Bradford if they wish to do so. As part of the expansion of the IAA the emphasis has been placed on larger hearing centres. Small satellite courts, consisting of only one or two hearing rooms, have less flexibility in relation to listing and hence lower efficiency. As a result, it is intended that the IAA will cease to use its small satellite courts as the new centres come on stream. The hearing centre at Leeds is not, however, classified as a satellite court. Announcements in respect of new hearing centres will be made once lease and contractual negotiations have progressed sufficiently to assure completion.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

388 c174-5W;388 c174W; 64869

Session

2001-02

Subjects

Appeals Courts Immigration Entry clearances Location Staff Immigration Appellate Authority Interpreters

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk