1 Establishment of the Commission.
1
There shall be a commission, known as the Special Immigration Appeals Commission, for the purpose of exercising the jurisdiction conferred by this Act.
2
Schedule 1 to this Act shall have effect in relation to the Commission.
F13
The Commission shall be a superior court of record.
4
A decision of the Commission shall be questioned in legal proceedings only in accordance with—
a
section 7, or
F16b
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
C7F22 Jurisdiction: appeals
1
A person may appeal to the Special Immigration Appeals Commission against a decision if—
a
he would be able to appeal against the decision under section 82(1) F20, 83(2) or 83A(2) of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 but for a certificate of the Secretary of State under section 97 of that Act (national security, &c.), or
b
an appeal against the decision under section 82(1) F20, 83(2) or 83A(2) of that Act lapsed under section 99 of that Act by virtue of a certificate of the Secretary of State under section 97 of that Act.
2
The following provisions shall apply, with any necessary modifications, in relation to an appeal against an immigration decision under this section as they apply in relation to an appeal under section 82(1) of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002—
b
section 78 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (no removal while appeal pending),
c
section 79 of that Act (deportation order: appeal),
F28ca
section 78A of that Act (restriction on removal of children and their parents),
d
section 82(3) of that Act (variation or revocation of leave to enter or remain: appeal),
e
section 84 of that Act (grounds of appeal),
f
section 85 of that Act (matters to be considered),
g
section 86 of that Act (determination of appeal),
h
section 87 of that Act (successful appeal: direction),
i
section 96 of that Act (earlier right of appeal),
j
section 104 of that Act (pending appeal),
k
section 105 of that Act (notice of immigration decision), and
l
section 110 of that Act (grants).
3
The following provisions shall apply, with any necessary modifications, in relation to F18an appeal against a decision other than an immigration decision under this section as they apply in relation to an appeal under section 83(2) F19or 83A(2) of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002—
a
section 85(4) of that Act (matters to be considered),
b
section 86 of that Act (determination of appeal),
c
section 87 of that Act (successful appeal: direction), and
d
section 110 of that Act (grants).
4
An appeal against the rejection of a claim for asylum under this section shall be treated as abandoned if the appellant leaves the United Kingdom.
C85
A person may bring or continue an appeal against an immigration decision under this section while he is in the United Kingdom only if he would be able to bring or continue the appeal while he was in the United Kingdom if it were an appeal under section 82(1) of that Act.
6
In this section “immigration decision” has the meaning given by section 82(2) of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002.
F42A Jurisdiction: F3racial discrimination andhuman rights.
F5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F62B
A person may appeal to the Special Immigration Appeals Commission against a decision to make an order under section 40 of the British Nationality Act 1981 (c. 61) (deprivation of citizenship) if he is not entitled to appeal under section 40A(1) of that Act because of a certificate under section 40A(2) F17(and section 40A(3)(a) shall have effect in relation to appeals under this section).
2CF25Jurisdiction: review of certain exclusion decisions
1
Subsection (2) applies in relation to any direction about the exclusion of a non-EEA national from the United Kingdom which—
a
is made by the Secretary of State wholly or partly on the ground that the exclusion from the United Kingdom of the non-EEA national is conducive to the public good,
b
is not subject to a right of appeal, and
c
is certified by the Secretary of State as a direction that was made wholly or partly in reliance on information which, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, should not be made public—
i
in the interests of national security,
ii
in the interests of the relationship between the United Kingdom and another country, or
iii
otherwise in the public interest.
2
The non-EEA national to whom the direction relates may apply to the Special Immigration Appeals Commission to set aside the direction.
3
In determining whether the direction should be set aside, the Commission must apply the principles which would be applied in judicial review proceedings.
4
If the Commission decides that the direction should be set aside, it may make any such order, or give any such relief, as may be made or given in judicial review proceedings.
5
In this section—
“non-EEA national” means any person who is not a national of an EEA state,
and references in this section to the Secretary of State are to the Secretary of State acting in person.
2DJurisdiction: review of certain naturalisation and citizenship decisions
1
Subsection (2) applies in relation to any decision of the Secretary of State which—
a
is either—
i
a refusal to issue a certificate of naturalisation under section 6 of the British Nationality Act 1981 to an applicant under that section, or
ii
a refusal to grant an application of the kind mentioned in section 41A of that Act (applications to register an adult or young person as a British citizen etc.), and
b
is certified by the Secretary of State as a decision that was made wholly or partly in reliance on information which, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, should not be made public—
i
in the interests of national security,
ii
in the interests of the relationship between the United Kingdom and another country, or
iii
otherwise in the public interest.
2
The applicant to whom the decision relates may apply to the Special Immigration Appeals Commission to set aside the decision.
3
In determining whether the decision should be set aside, the Commission must apply the principles which would be applied in judicial review proceedings.
4
If the Commission decides that the decision should be set aside, it may make any such order, or give any such relief, as may be made or given in judicial review proceedings.
3 Jurisdiction: bail.
1
In the case of a person to whom subsection (2) below applies, the provisions of Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971 specified in Schedule 3 to this Act shall have effect with the modifications set out there.
2
This subsection applies to a person who is detained under the Immigration Act 1971 F7or the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 if—
a
the Secretary of State certifies that his detention is necessary in the interests of national security,
b
he is detained following a decision to refuse him leave to enter the United Kingdom on the ground that his exclusion is in the interests of national security, or
c
he is detained following a decision to make a deportation order against him on the ground that his deportation is in the interests of national security.
4 Determination of appeals.
F8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
C1C95 Procedure in relation to jurisdiction under sections 2 and 3.
C21
The Lord Chancellor may make rules—
a
for regulating the exercise of the rights of appeal conferred by section 2 F9or 2B... above,
b
c
for other matters preliminary or incidental to or arising out of such appeals, including proof of the decisions of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission.
2
Rules under this section shall provide that an appellant has the right to be legally represented in any proceedings before the Commission on an appeal under section 2 F9or 2B... above, subject to any power conferred on the Commission by such rules.
F112A
Rules under this section may, in particular, do anything which may be done by F23Tribunal Procedure Rules.
3
Rules under this section may, in particular—
a
make provision enabling proceedings before the Commission to take place without the appellant being given full particulars of the reasons for the decision which is the subject of the appeal,
b
make provision enabling the Commission to hold proceedings in the absence of any person, including the appellant and any legal representative appointed by him,
c
make provision about the functions in proceedings before the Commission of persons appointed under section 6 below, and
d
make provision enabling the Commission to give the appellant a summary of any evidence taken in his absence.
4
Rules under this section may also include provision—
a
enabling any functions of the Commission which relate to matters preliminary or incidental to an appeal, or which are conferred by Part II of Schedule 2 to the M1Immigration Act 1971, to be performed by a single member of the Commission, or
b
conferring on the Commission such ancillary powers as the Lord Chancellor thinks necessary for the purposes of the exercise of its functions.
5
The power to make rules under this section shall include power to make rules with respect to applications to the Commission under paragraphs 22 to 24 of Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971 and matters arising out of such applications.
F295A
Rules under this section must secure that, where the Commission has decided not to release a person on bail under paragraph 22 or 29 of Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971, the Commission is required to dismiss any further application by the person for release on bail that is made during the period of 28 days starting with the date of the Commission's decision, unless there has been a material change in circumstances.
6
In making rules under this section, the Lord Chancellor shall have regard, in particular, to—
a
the need to secure that decisions which are the subject of appeals are properly reviewed, and
b
the need to secure that information is not disclosed contrary to the public interest.
F127
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8
The power to make rules under this section shall be exercisable by statutory instrument.
9
No rules shall be made under this section unless a draft of them has been laid before and approved by resolution of each House of Parliament.
C3C96 Appointment of person to represent the appellant’s interests.
1
The relevant law officer may appoint a person to represent the interests of an appellant in any proceedings before the Special Immigration Appeals Commission from which the appellant and any legal representative of his are excluded.
2
For the purposes of subsection (1) above, the relevant law officer is—
a
in relation to proceedings before the Commission in England and Wales, the Attorney General,
b
in relation to proceedings before the Commission in Scotland, the Lord Advocate, and
c
in relation to proceedings before the Commission in Northern Ireland, the F24Advocate General for Northern Ireland.
3
A person appointed under subsection (1) above—
a
if appointed for the purposes of proceedings in England and Wales, shall have a general qualification for the purposes of section 71 of the M2Courts and Legal Services Act 1990,
b
if appointed for the purposes of proceedings in Scotland, shall be—
i
an advocate, or
ii
a solicitor who has by virtue of section 25A of the M3Solicitors (Scotland) Act 1980 rights of audience in the Court of Session and the High Court of Justiciary, and
c
if appointed for the purposes of proceedings in Northern Ireland, shall be a member of the Bar of Northern Ireland.
4
A person appointed under subsection (1) above shall not be responsible to the person whose interests he is appointed to represent.
6AF26Procedure in relation to jurisdiction under sections 2C F30to 2E
1
Sections 5 and 6 apply in relation to reviews under section 2CF31, 2D or 2E as they apply in relation to appeals under section 2 or 2B.
2
Accordingly—
a
references to appeals are to be read as references to reviews (and references to appeals under section 2 or 2B are to be read as references to reviews under section 2CF32, 2D or 2E), and
b
references to an appellant are to be read as references to an applicant under section 2C(2)F33, 2D(2) or (as the case may be) 2E(2).
C47 Appeals from the Commission.
1
Where the Special Immigration Appeals Commission has made a final determination of an appeal, any party to the appeal may bring a further appeal to the appropriate appeal court on any question of law material to that determination.
F271A
Where the Commission has made a final determination of a review under section 2C or 2D, any party to the review may bring an appeal against that determination to the appropriate appeal court.
C52
An appeal under this section may be brought only with the leave of the Commission or, if such leave is refused, with the leave of the appropriate appeal court.
C53
In this section “the appropriate appeal court” means—
a
in relation to a determination made by the Commission in England and Wales, the Court of Appeal,
b
in relation to a determination made by the Commission in Scotland, the Court of Session, and
c
in relation to a determination made by the Commission in Northern Ireland, the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland.
F134
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F147A Pending appeals.
F15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
C68 Procedure on applications to the Commission for leave to appeal.
1
The Lord Chancellor may make rules regulating, and prescribing the procedure to be followed on, applications to the Special Immigration Appeals Commission for leave to appeal under section 7 above.
2
Rules under this section may include provision enabling an application for leave to appeal to be heard by a single member of the Commission.
3
The power to make rules under this section shall be exercisable by statutory instrument.
4
No rules shall be made under this section unless a draft of them has been laid before and approved by resolution of each House of Parliament.
9 Short title, commencement and extent.
1
This Act may be cited as the Special Immigration Appeals Commission Act 1997.
P12
This Act, except for this section, shall come into force on such day as the Secretary of State may by order made by statutory instrument appoint; and different days may be so appointed for different purposes.
3
Her Majesty may by Order in Council direct that any of the provisions of this Act shall extend, with such modifications as appear to Her Majesty to be appropriate, to any of the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.
4
This Act extends to Northern Ireland.