Immigration court proposals set to cut judicial review

The Immigration Appeal Tribunal is set to become a superior court of record with the capacity to handle 50% more cases, under government proposals unveiled last week.

The White Paper on nationality, immigration and asylum aims to cut down on the number of cases going to judicial review.

It would see the number of appeals rise from 4,000 to 6,000 each month.Asylum seekers will be able to get information about legal advice from induction centres, and access services at accommodation centres or locally.The paper also proposes closure dates on appeals to stop multiple adjournments, tighter time-limits on appeals, and measures to ensure the public funding merits test is being applied properly.

Law Society President David McIntosh said: 'Access to good quality legal advice from the outset must be guaranteed for all asylum seekers.'Philip Barth, head of immigration at London firm Mischcon de Reya, warned that the changes to appeals could erode human rights.Paula Rohan