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House
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Legislative stage
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To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he plans to take to ensure that files formerly held by the Immigration Advisory Service are retained for use by their clients.
[117521]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he plans to take to ensure that files formerly held by the Immigration Advisory Service are retained for use by their clients.
[117521]
Asked by
Julian Huppert
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Jonathan Djanogly
(Conservative)
Answering body
Justice
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
11 July 2012
For answer on
16 July 2012
Answered on
17 July 2012
The Immigration Advisory Service was placed into administration on 8 July 2011. Following the orderly transfer of legal aid clients to new providers by the Legal Services Commission, the court ordered that the administrators allow three months for former clients of IAS to make requests for their archived files. This opportunity closed on 28 May 2012 and any remaining files are expected to be securely destroyed.
Subjects
Immigration Advisory Service
Date
17 July 2012
Reference
117521; 548 c641W
House
House of Commons
Deposited by
Ministry of Justice
Type
Deposited papers
Author
Ministry of Justice
Committed on
5 October 2011
Originated on
5 October 2011
Received on
10 October 2011
Subjects
Appeals; Asylum; Administration; Immigration; Insolvency; Legislation; Legal Services Commission; Tribunals; First-tier Tribunal; Immigration Advisory Service; Statutory instruments
Date
5 October 2011
Reference
DEP2011-1569
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) when his received notification of the entry into administration of the Immigration Advisory Service;
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) when his received notification of the entry into administration of the Immigration Advisory Service;
Asked by
Louise Ellman
(Labour; Co-operative Party)
Answered by
Jonathan Djanogly
(Conservative)
Answering body
Ministry of Justice
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
11 August 2011
For answer on
7 September 2011
Answered on
7 September 2011
The Ministry of Justice received notification of the Immigration Advisory Service's (IAS) entry into administration on Friday 8 July.The Ministry was informed that the IAS's financial position was such that the trustees were concerned about whether the organisation could continue to operate on Tuesday 28 June.The Legal Services Commission (LSC) does not record the number of people who receive legal aid, but instead records the number of 'acts of assistance'. An act of assistance is each instance in which a provider opens a new matter to advise or assist a client. It is important to note that an individual may receive a number of separate acts of assistance and one act of assistance can help more than one person. As at 11 July 2011, there were 8,140 open acts of assistance identified from the IAS case management system.The LSC is working with the administrators to establish the value of claims for work that had not been submitted for payment when Immigration Asylum Service (IAS) entered administration. These claims will be offset against any sum that is confirmed as being owed to the LSC as a result of the Contract Compliance Audit, which has not yet concluded.
Subjects
Immigration Advisory Service
Date
7 September 2011
Reference
69594; 532 c625W
House
House of Commons
(2) when he was first made aware of the financial situation at the Immigration Advisory Service;
(2) when he was first made aware of the financial situation at the Immigration Advisory Service;
Asked by
Louise Ellman
(Labour; Co-operative Party)
Answered by
Jonathan Djanogly
(Conservative)
Answering body
Ministry of Justice
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
11 August 2011
For answer on
7 September 2011
Answered on
7 September 2011
The Ministry of Justice received notification of the Immigration Advisory Service's (IAS) entry into administration on Friday 8 July.The Ministry was informed that the IAS's financial position was such that the trustees were concerned about whether the organisation could continue to operate on Tuesday 28 June.The Legal Services Commission (LSC) does not record the number of people who receive legal aid, but instead records the number of 'acts of assistance'. An act of assistance is each instance in which a provider opens a new matter to advise or assist a client. It is important to note that an individual may receive a number of separate acts of assistance and one act of assistance can help more than one person. As at 11 July 2011, there were 8,140 open acts of assistance identified from the IAS case management system.The LSC is working with the administrators to establish the value of claims for work that had not been submitted for payment when Immigration Asylum Service (IAS) entered administration. These claims will be offset against any sum that is confirmed as being owed to the LSC as a result of the Contract Compliance Audit, which has not yet concluded.
Subjects
Immigration Advisory Service
Date
7 September 2011
Reference
69595; 532 c625W
House
House of Commons
(3) how many people were in receipt of services from the Immigration Advisory Service at the time of its entry into administration;
(3) how many people were in receipt of services from the Immigration Advisory Service at the time of its entry into administration;
Asked by
Louise Ellman
(Labour; Co-operative Party)
Answered by
Jonathan Djanogly
(Conservative)
Answering body
Ministry of Justice
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
11 August 2011
For answer on
7 September 2011
Answered on
7 September 2011
The Ministry of Justice received notification of the Immigration Advisory Service's (IAS) entry into administration on Friday 8 July.The Ministry was informed that the IAS's financial position was such that the trustees were concerned about whether the organisation could continue to operate on Tuesday 28 June.The Legal Services Commission (LSC) does not record the number of people who receive legal aid, but instead records the number of 'acts of assistance'. An act of assistance is each instance in which a provider opens a new matter to advise or assist a client. It is important to note that an individual may receive a number of separate acts of assistance and one act of assistance can help more than one person. As at 11 July 2011, there were 8,140 open acts of assistance identified from the IAS case management system.The LSC is working with the administrators to establish the value of claims for work that had not been submitted for payment when Immigration Asylum Service (IAS) entered administration. These claims will be offset against any sum that is confirmed as being owed to the LSC as a result of the Contract Compliance Audit, which has not yet concluded.
Subjects
Immigration Advisory Service
Date
7 September 2011
Reference
69596; 532 c625W
House
House of Commons
(4) what estimate he has made of the likely cost to the public purse of the entry into administration of the Immigration Advisory Service.
(4) what estimate he has made of the likely cost to the public purse of the entry into administration of the Immigration Advisory Service.
Asked by
Louise Ellman
(Labour; Co-operative Party)
Answered by
Jonathan Djanogly
(Conservative)
Answering body
Ministry of Justice
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
11 August 2011
For answer on
7 September 2011
Answered on
7 September 2011
The Ministry of Justice received notification of the Immigration Advisory Service's (IAS) entry into administration on Friday 8 July.The Ministry was informed that the IAS's financial position was such that the trustees were concerned about whether the organisation could continue to operate on Tuesday 28 June.The Legal Services Commission (LSC) does not record the number of people who receive legal aid, but instead records the number of 'acts of assistance'. An act of assistance is each instance in which a provider opens a new matter to advise or assist a client. It is important to note that an individual may receive a number of separate acts of assistance and one act of assistance can help more than one person. As at 11 July 2011, there were 8,140 open acts of assistance identified from the IAS case management system.The LSC is working with the administrators to establish the value of claims for work that had not been submitted for payment when Immigration Asylum Service (IAS) entered administration. These claims will be offset against any sum that is confirmed as being owed to the LSC as a result of the Contract Compliance Audit, which has not yet concluded.
Subjects
Immigration Advisory Service
Date
7 September 2011
Reference
69597; 532 c625W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice who will assume responsibility for the casework of the Immigration Advisory Service following the organisation entering administration.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice who will assume responsibility for the casework of the Immigration Advisory Service following the organisation entering administration.
Asked by
Louise Ellman
(Labour; Co-operative Party)
Answered by
Jonathan Djanogly
(Conservative)
Answering body
Ministry of Justice
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
19 July 2011
For answer on
5 September 2011
Answered on
5 September 2011
The Legal Services Commission (LSC) has been working closely with IAS's auditors and their wider immigration and asylum provider base to ensure the efficient transfer of files to alternative providers. At the time of writing, the LSC has had indications from providers that there is capacity to take on an additional 28,000 case starts, against the 8,000 live files IAS had at the time they went into administration. The LSC and the administrators are also working to identify urgent matters, involving for example unaccompanied asylum seeking minors or those with hearings in the very near future, with the objective of allocating these cases as a priority.
Subjects
Immigration Advisory Service
Date
5 September 2011
Reference
68470; 532 c288W
House
House of Commons
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the impact on the provision of free and reliable legal advice on immigration and refugee issues of the entry into administration of the Immigration Advisory Service, the winding up of Refugee and Migrant Justice, and the cuts in legal aid.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the impact on the provision of free and reliable legal advice on immigration and refugee issues of the entry into administration of the Immigration Advisory Service, the winding up of Refugee and Migrant Justice, and the cuts in legal aid.
Asked by
Lord Lester of Herne Hill
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Lord McNally
(Liberal Democrat)
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Answered on
20 July 2011
The position of both the Immigration and Asylum Service (IAS) and Refugee and Migrant Justice (RMJ) is not a direct consequence of the proposed legal aid reforms, not least because these reforms have yet to be implemented. The primary concern for the Government and the Legal Services Commission is to ensure clients of the IAS and RMJ continue to get the help they need.
These are only two providers in a much wider market and there is significant long term interest in this work from other providers, both not-for-profit organisations and private solicitor firms.
The LSC ran a tender round for new immigration and asylum contracts in October last year and there was an increase in the number of offices that applied to do the work and bids for more than double the amount of cases that were available. The LSC has already received 140 expressions of interest to take on this work.
All immigration and asylum providers will continue to be expected to meet the same high quality standards that are in place. These include compulsory accreditation schemes for all advisers and supervisors. We will seek to ensure that the interests of this vulnerable group are properly protected.
Subjects
Asylum; Closures; Legal aid scheme; Immigration; Refugee and Migrant Justice; Immigration Advisory Service
Date
20 July 2011
Reference
11059; 729 c325WA
House
House of Lords
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to ensure repayment of money which the Immigration Advisory Service claimed in error to the legal Services Commission.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to ensure repayment of money which the Immigration Advisory Service claimed in error to the legal Services Commission.
Asked by
Anne Main
(Conservative)
Answered by
Jonathan Djanogly
(Conservative)
Answering body
Ministry of Justice
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
13 July 2011
For answer on
18 July 2011
Answered on
18 July 2011
The Legal Services Commission (LSC) is working with the administrators to establish the value of claims for work that had not been submitted for payment when Immigration Asylum Service (IAS) entered administration, following a decision by its Trustees on 8 July 2011. These claims will be set off against any sum that is confirmed as being owed to the LSC as a result of the Contract Compliance Audit, which has not yet concluded.
Subjects
Immigration Advisory Service
Date
18 July 2011
Reference
66852; 531 c733-4W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent discussions he has had with the Immigration Advisory Service regarding the status of the current clients of the service and their on-going legal cases.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent discussions he has had with the Immigration Advisory Service regarding the status of the current clients of the service and their on-going legal cases.
Asked by
Anne Main
(Conservative)
Answered by
Jonathan Djanogly
(Conservative)
Answering body
Ministry of Justice
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
13 July 2011
For answer on
18 July 2011
Answered on
18 July 2011
The Legal Services Commission (LSC) has been working closely with Immigration Advisory Service (IAS) for some time now following an audit which raised concerns around the company's financial management and claims irregularities and as such, the Trustees of the IAS decided that the organisation had to enter into administration on 8 July 2011.The primary concern for the Government and the LSC now is to ensure clients of IAS continue to get the help they need. The LSC expects that the administration of IAS will allow a managed close down process of IAS's activities and an orderly transfer of clients to new providers. Provisional arrangements have been made to ensure that any emergency cases are dealt with speedily.Meanwhile the LSC is identifying alternative advice provision in the areas affected and arrangements for case transfer will follow as soon as possible. Three IAS hub centres will be kept open for the moment: in Manchester, Birmingham and Bradford which will help facilitate the transfer of these cases.
Subjects
Immigration Advisory Service
Date
18 July 2011
Reference
66851; 531 c733W
House
House of Commons
My Lords, it is clearly regrettable that the Immigration Advisory Service’s trustees have decided to place the organisation in administration. However, the IAS is one provider in a wider market of immigration and asylum advice. The Legal Services Commission is identifying alternative provision for the areas affected, as well as making the necessary arrangements for case transfers.
My Lords, it is clearly regrettable that the Immigration Advisory Service’s trustees have decided to place the organisation in administration. However, the IAS is one provider in a wider market of immigration and asylum advice. The Legal Services Commission is identifying alternative provision for the areas affected, as well as making the necessary arrangements for case transfers.
Answered by
Baroness Northover
(Liberal Democrat)
Asked by
Baroness Hamwee
(Liberal Democrat)
Type
Oral answers to questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how immigrants and asylum seekers will be provided with legal advice and representation following the entering into administration of the Immigration Advisory Service.
Subjects
Asylum; Legal aid scheme; Immigration; Insolvency; Immigration Advisory Service
Date
13 July 2011
Reference
729 c720
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
I declare an interest as former chief executive of the Refugee Council. Can the Minister assure the House that the quality of specialist immigration law that will be available in the future will as good as in the past? Is she aware of the differential success rates of people getting very good legal advice? Does she accept that removing immigration law from the scope and cutting the budget of legal aid for asylum may make it harder? I am sure that most noble Lords would not dream of buying a house without decent legal advice, and certainly no one should be forced to defend their life without it.
I declare an interest as former chief executive of the Refugee Council. Can the Minister assure the House that the quality of specialist immigration law that will be available in the future will as good as in the past? Is she aware of the differential success rates of people getting very good legal advice? Does she accept that removing immigration law from the scope and cutting the budget of legal aid for asylum may make it harder? I am sure that most noble Lords would not dream of buying a house without decent legal advice, and certainly no one should be forced to defend their life without it.
Asked by
Baroness Sherlock
(Labour)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
13 July 2011
The Legal Services Commission has a certain threshold for demanding the kind of quality that the noble Baroness is talking about. That continues to be the case, and we are encouraged that a large number of providers are willing to take on this work, which helps drive up the quality.
Subjects
Asylum; Legal aid scheme; Immigration; Insolvency; Immigration Advisory Service
Date
13 July 2011
Reference
729 c721
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
I disagree with what my noble friend says about adequate provision perhaps not being in place. I am very encouraged by what the chief executive of the Legal Services Commission said. The transfer of files is better organised than it was in the previous case that he referred to, and we are confident that this will be taken forward very effectively.
I disagree with what my noble friend says about adequate provision perhaps not being in place. I am very encouraged by what the chief executive of the Legal Services Commission said. The transfer of files is better organised than it was in the previous case that he referred to, and we are confident that this will be taken forward very effectively.
Answered by
Baroness Northover
(Liberal Democrat)
Asked by
Lord Avebury
(Liberal Democrat)
Type
Oral answers to questions
My Lords, will my noble friend say how many IAS staff will be retained in the three offices that she has just mentioned to deal with the transfer of files, and whether she considers that they will be able to do it adequately, bearing in mind that, as she has already said, there are still files that have not been transferred after the demise of the RMJ, even though there has been more than a year to do this? Does she agree that the number of matter starts given to the IAS is so large that they could not be taken up by other practitioners, especially in regions such as East Anglia and Yorkshire, where the IAS has either 100 per cent or most of the legal aid and asylum cases?
Subjects
Asylum; Legal aid scheme; Immigration; Insolvency; Immigration Advisory Service
Date
13 July 2011
Reference
729 c722
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
How very kind of the noble Lord. On his first point, three IAS hub centres will be kept open for the moment: in Manchester, Birmingham and Bradford. They are facilitating the transfer of these cases. I am sure that we will have very interesting debates coming down the track on legal aid, but this has nothing to do with the proposed changes.
How very kind of the noble Lord. On his first point, three IAS hub centres will be kept open for the moment: in Manchester, Birmingham and Bradford. They are facilitating the transfer of these cases. I am sure that we will have very interesting debates coming down the track on legal aid, but this has nothing to do with the proposed changes.
Answered by
Baroness Northover
(Liberal Democrat)
Asked by
Lord Bach
(Labour)
Type
Oral answers to questions
My Lords, will the Minister ensure that every case that is currently with the IAS will be transferred to a competent provider of legal advice and representation? I think she has already indicated that she will make sure that that happens. Furthermore, because of the Government’s proposals in the Bill, all immigration cases, except those of individuals in detention, will be outside the scope of legal aid, including cases of domestic violence. This means that in every case, however complicated, no legal advice or legal aid will be available. Does the Minister, who has a proud liberal reputation, not feel more than a little uncomfortable at depriving people of access to justice in this way?
Subjects
Asylum; Legal aid scheme; Immigration; Insolvency; Immigration Advisory Service
Date
13 July 2011
Reference
729 c722
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
Is there not a danger that with the cutback in money for legal aid, it is not possible for other organisations to fill the gap left by the Immigration Advisory Service? Is not the real problem that asylum seekers will be caught in limbo, possibly becoming destitute because there is no one to represent them properly?
Is there not a danger that with the cutback in money for legal aid, it is not possible for other organisations to fill the gap left by the Immigration Advisory Service? Is not the real problem that asylum seekers will be caught in limbo, possibly becoming destitute because there is no one to represent them properly?
Asked by
Lord Dubs
(Labour)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
13 July 2011
This is a problem in the IAS, which projected that it would have a return profit of £500,000 even with the proposed legal aid reforms. This is not an issue about legal aid reforms but a problem in the IAS: a large debt that it cannot address and which the Legal Services Commission has decided should not be written off. Many other organisations want to take on this work. Carolyn Downs, the chief executive of the Legal Services Commission, said in the other place yesterday: "““we have a huge number of people contacting us who are prepared to take on that work””.—[Official Report, Commons, Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill Committee, 12/7/11; col. 72.]"
Subjects
Asylum; Legal aid scheme; Immigration; Insolvency; Immigration Advisory Service
Date
13 July 2011
Reference
729 c721
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, the IAS had almost 25,000 new cases last year, of which 8,500 were asylum cases. That leaves about 10,000 live cases. What assurances can the Government give: first, to clients, especially those whose cases are at a critical time-limited point and who need information in their own languages about what will happen next; and, secondly, on practical matters, including the number of staff retained by the administrators to deal with such things as the transfer of files? My noble friend will know that a year after the closure of Refugee and Migrant Justice many files are still in storage, with the storage company looking for payment before cases can proceed.
My Lords, the IAS had almost 25,000 new cases last year, of which 8,500 were asylum cases. That leaves about 10,000 live cases. What assurances can the Government give: first, to clients, especially those whose cases are at a critical time-limited point and who need information in their own languages about what will happen next; and, secondly, on practical matters, including the number of staff retained by the administrators to deal with such things as the transfer of files? My noble friend will know that a year after the closure of Refugee and Migrant Justice many files are still in storage, with the storage company looking for payment before cases can proceed.
Asked by
Baroness Hamwee
(Liberal Democrat)
Oral questions - 1st Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
13 July 2011
The IAS was audited and the Legal Services Commission identified potential overclaims representing millions of pounds. That is what has led to this train of events. The LSC is working very hard to transfer cases and is prioritising the most vulnerable first, among them cases of unaccompanied children claiming asylum and cases coming up to tribunal immediately. A large number of people working in this area are prepared to take on this work, which is very encouraging for making a smooth transfer and making sure that clients are well looked after in this situation.
Subjects
Asylum; Legal aid scheme; Immigration; Insolvency; Immigration Advisory Service
Date
13 July 2011
Reference
729 c721
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, will the Minister ensure that every case that is currently with the IAS will be transferred to a competent provider of legal advice and representation? I think she has already indicated that she will make sure that that happens. Furthermore, because of the Government’s proposals in the Bill, all immigration cases, except those of individuals in detention, will be outside the scope of legal aid, including cases of domestic violence. This means that in every case, however complicated, no legal advice or legal aid will be available. Does the Minister, who has a proud liberal reputation, not feel more than a little uncomfortable at depriving people of access to justice in this way?
My Lords, will the Minister ensure that every case that is currently with the IAS will be transferred to a competent provider of legal advice and representation? I think she has already indicated that she will make sure that that happens. Furthermore, because of the Government’s proposals in the Bill, all immigration cases, except those of individuals in detention, will be outside the scope of legal aid, including cases of domestic violence. This means that in every case, however complicated, no legal advice or legal aid will be available. Does the Minister, who has a proud liberal reputation, not feel more than a little uncomfortable at depriving people of access to justice in this way?
Asked by
Lord Bach
(Labour)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
13 July 2011
How very kind of the noble Lord. On his first point, three IAS hub centres will be kept open for the moment: in Manchester, Birmingham and Bradford. They are facilitating the transfer of these cases. I am sure that we will have very interesting debates coming down the track on legal aid, but this has nothing to do with the proposed changes.
Subjects
Asylum; Legal aid scheme; Immigration; Insolvency; Immigration Advisory Service
Date
13 July 2011
Reference
729 c722
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
The IAS was audited and the Legal Services Commission identified potential overclaims representing millions of pounds. That is what has led to this train of events. The LSC is working very hard to transfer cases and is prioritising the most vulnerable first, among them cases of unaccompanied children claiming asylum and cases coming up to tribunal immediately. A large number of people working in this area are prepared to take on this work, which is very encouraging for making a smooth transfer and making sure that clients are well looked after in this situation.
The IAS was audited and the Legal Services Commission identified potential overclaims representing millions of pounds. That is what has led to this train of events. The LSC is working very hard to transfer cases and is prioritising the most vulnerable first, among them cases of unaccompanied children claiming asylum and cases coming up to tribunal immediately. A large number of people working in this area are prepared to take on this work, which is very encouraging for making a smooth transfer and making sure that clients are well looked after in this situation.
Answered by
Baroness Northover
(Liberal Democrat)
Asked by
Baroness Hamwee
(Liberal Democrat)
Type
Oral answers to questions
My Lords, the IAS had almost 25,000 new cases last year, of which 8,500 were asylum cases. That leaves about 10,000 live cases. What assurances can the Government give: first, to clients, especially those whose cases are at a critical time-limited point and who need information in their own languages about what will happen next; and, secondly, on practical matters, including the number of staff retained by the administrators to deal with such things as the transfer of files? My noble friend will know that a year after the closure of Refugee and Migrant Justice many files are still in storage, with the storage company looking for payment before cases can proceed.
Subjects
Asylum; Legal aid scheme; Immigration; Insolvency; Immigration Advisory Service
Date
13 July 2011
Reference
729 c721
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
This is a problem in the IAS, which projected that it would have a return profit of £500,000 even with the proposed legal aid reforms. This is not an issue about legal aid reforms but a problem in the IAS: a large debt that it cannot address and which the Legal Services Commission has decided should not be written off. Many other organisations want to take on this work. Carolyn Downs, the chief executive of the Legal Services Commission, said in the other place yesterday: "““we have a huge number of people contacting us who are prepared to take on that work””.—[Official Report, Commons, Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill Committee, 12/7/11; col. 72.]"
This is a problem in the IAS, which projected that it would have a return profit of £500,000 even with the proposed legal aid reforms. This is not an issue about legal aid reforms but a problem in the IAS: a large debt that it cannot address and which the Legal Services Commission has decided should not be written off. Many other organisations want to take on this work. Carolyn Downs, the chief executive of the Legal Services Commission, said in the other place yesterday: "““we have a huge number of people contacting us who are prepared to take on that work””.—[Official Report, Commons, Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill Committee, 12/7/11; col. 72.]"
Answered by
Baroness Northover
(Liberal Democrat)
Asked by
Lord Dubs
(Labour)
Type
Oral answers to questions
Is there not a danger that with the cutback in money for legal aid, it is not possible for other organisations to fill the gap left by the Immigration Advisory Service? Is not the real problem that asylum seekers will be caught in limbo, possibly becoming destitute because there is no one to represent them properly?
Subjects
Asylum; Legal aid scheme; Immigration; Insolvency; Immigration Advisory Service
Date
13 July 2011
Reference
729 c721
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
The Legal Services Commission has a certain threshold for demanding the kind of quality that the noble Baroness is talking about. That continues to be the case, and we are encouraged that a large number of providers are willing to take on this work, which helps drive up the quality.
The Legal Services Commission has a certain threshold for demanding the kind of quality that the noble Baroness is talking about. That continues to be the case, and we are encouraged that a large number of providers are willing to take on this work, which helps drive up the quality.
Answered by
Baroness Northover
(Liberal Democrat)
Asked by
Baroness Sherlock
(Labour)
Type
Oral answers to questions
I declare an interest as former chief executive of the Refugee Council. Can the Minister assure the House that the quality of specialist immigration law that will be available in the future will as good as in the past? Is she aware of the differential success rates of people getting very good legal advice? Does she accept that removing immigration law from the scope and cutting the budget of legal aid for asylum may make it harder? I am sure that most noble Lords would not dream of buying a house without decent legal advice, and certainly no one should be forced to defend their life without it.
Subjects
Asylum; Legal aid scheme; Immigration; Insolvency; Immigration Advisory Service
Date
13 July 2011
Reference
729 c721
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords