The Special Immigration Appeals Commission (Procedure) Rules 2003

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"the 1997 Act" means the Special Immigration Appeals Commission Act 1997[3];

"the 2001 Act" means the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001;

"the 2002 Act" means the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002[4];

"appellant" means a person appealing to the Commission, and in Part 7 is to be interpreted as additionally including - 

(i) in relation to applications for permission to appeal or applications for bail, the applicant; and

(ii) in relation to reviews, the person certified;

"certification" means certification of a person by the Secretary of State under section 21(1) of the 2001 Act and, unless the context requires otherwise, "certified" and "certificate" are to be interpreted accordingly;

"chairman" means the chairman of the Commission;

"Commission" means the Special Immigration Appeals Commission;

"Immigration Acts" means the Acts referred to in section 158(1) of the 2002 Act;

"proceedings" means any appeal or application to, or review held by, the Commission;

"relevant law officer" has the meaning given by section 6(2) of the 1997 Act;

"review" means a review of certification by the Commission under section 26 of the 2001 Act;

"special advocate" means a person appointed under section 6(1) of the 1997 Act to represent the interests of a party to proceedings;

"United Kingdom Representative" means the United Kingdom Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

    (2) In relation to an appeal to the Commission under section 2B of the 1997 Act[5] against a decision which was made by a person exercising the functions of the Secretary of State pursuant to section 43 of the British Nationality Act 1981[6], references in these Rules to the Secretary of State are to be read as if they referred to the person who made the decision.

Scope of these Rules
     3. These Rules apply to the following proceedings - 

(a) appeals to the Commission;

(b) reviews;

(c) applications to the Commission for leave to appeal to the Court of Appeal, the Court of Session or the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland; and

(d) applications to the Commission for bail.

General duty of Commission
     4.  - (1) When exercising its functions, the Commission shall secure that information is not disclosed contrary to the interests of national security, the international relations of the United Kingdom, the detection and prevention of crime, or in any other circumstances where disclosure is likely to harm the public interest.

    (2) Where these Rules require information not to be disclosed contrary to the public interest, that requirement is to be interpreted in accordance with paragraph (1).

    (3) Subject to paragraphs (1) and (2), the Commission must satisfy itself that the material available to it enables it properly to determine proceedings.

Delegated powers
     5.  - (1) The powers of the Commission under the following provisions of these Rules may be exercised by the chairman or by any other member of the Commission who falls within paragraph 5(a) or (b) of Schedule 1 to the 1997 Act[7] - 

(a) rule 8(5) (extensions of time for appealing);

(b) rules 11(1) and 17(1) (applications for leave to vary grounds of appeal);

(c) rule 15(2) (applications for leave to appeal against certification);

(d) Part 5 (applications for leave to appeal to Court of Appeal, Court of Session or Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland);

(e) Part 6 (bail);

(f) rule 37(5) (applications for leave to amend or supplement material filed by Secretary of State);

(g) rule 39 (directions);

(h) rule 40(1) (orders upon failure to comply with directions);

(i) rule 45 (issue of witness summons); and

(j) rule 46 (orders that two or more proceedings be heard together).

    (2) Anything of an administrative nature which is required or permitted to be done by the Commission under these Rules may be done by a member of the Commission's staff.

Time limit for appealing
     8.  - (1) Subject to the following paragraphs of this rule, a notice of appeal to the Commission under the 1997 Act must be given - 

(a) if the appellant is in detention under the Immigration Acts or the 2001 Act when he is served with notice of the decision against which he wishes to appeal, not later than 5 days after he is served with that notice;

(b) otherwise - 


(i) if the appellant is in the United Kingdom, not later than 10 days; or

(ii) if the appellant is outside the United Kingdom, not later than 28 days,



after the appellant is served with notice of the decision against which he wishes to appeal.

    (2) Where the appellant - 

(a) is in the United Kingdom when he is served with notice of the decision against which he wishes to appeal; and

(b) may not appeal against the decision while in the United Kingdom by reason of section 2(5) of the 1997 Act[9],

a notice of appeal against the decision must be given not later than 28 days after his departure from the United Kingdom.

    (3) Paragraph (4) applies where - 

(a) the appellant has given notice of appeal under Part 5 of the 2002 Act against a decision ("the previous appeal"); and

(b) the previous appeal has lapsed due to a certificate being issued under section 97 of the 2002 Act while the appeal was pending.

    (4) Where this paragraph applies, a notice of appeal to the Commission against the decision which was the subject of the previous appeal must be given - 

(a) if the appellant is in detention under the Immigration Acts or the 2001 Act when he is served with notice that the previous appeal has lapsed, not later than 5 days after he is served with that notice;

(b) otherwise - 


(i) if the appellant is in the United Kingdom, not later than 10 days; or

(ii) if the appellant is outside the United Kingdom, not later than 28 days,



after the appellant is served with notice that the previous appeal has lapsed.

    (5) The Commission may extend the time limits in this rule if satisfied that by reason of special circumstances it would be unjust not to do so.

Contents of notice of appeal
     9.  - (1) The notice of appeal must set out the grounds for the appeal and give reasons in support of those grounds.

    (2) The notice of appeal must state the name and address of - 

(a) the appellant; and

(b) any representative of the appellant.

    (3) The notice of appeal must be signed by the appellant or his representative, and dated.

    (4) If the notice of appeal is signed by the appellant's representative, the representative must certify in the notice of appeal that he has completed the notice of appeal in accordance with the appellant's instructions.

    (5) The appellant must attach to the notice of appeal a copy of the notice of decision against which he is appealing and any other document which was served on him containing reasons for that decision.

Secretary of State's reply
     10.  - (1) If the Secretary of State intends to oppose an appeal, he must as soon as reasonably practicable file with the Commission a statement of the evidence upon which he relies in opposition to the appeal.

    (2) Unless the Secretary of State objects to the statement being disclosed to the appellant or his representative, he must serve a copy of the statement of evidence on the appellant at the same time as filing it.

    (3) Where the Secretary of State objects to a statement filed under paragraph (1) being disclosed to the appellant or his representative, rules 37 and 38 shall apply.

Variation of grounds of appeal
     11.  - (1) Subject to section 85(2) of the 2002 Act[10], the appellant may vary the grounds of appeal only with the leave of the Commission.

    (2) The appellant must file any proposed variation of the grounds of appeal with the Commission and serve a copy on the Secretary of State.

Hearing of appeal
     12. Every appeal must be determined at a hearing before the Commission, except where - 

(a) the appeal - 


(i) is treated as abandoned pursuant to section 2(4) of the 1997 Act[11] or section 104(4) of the 2002 Act[12];

(ii) is treated as finally determined pursuant to section 104(5) of the 2002 Act[13]; or

(iii) is withdrawn by the appellant;



(b) the Secretary of State consents to the appeal being allowed; or

(c) the appellant is outside the United Kingdom or it is impracticable to give him notice of a hearing and, in either case, he is unrepresented.

    (7) The notice of appeal must be signed by the appellant or his representative, and dated.

Time limit for appealing
     15.  - (1) A notice of appeal to the Commission against certification must be given - 

(a) within the period of three months beginning with the date on which the certificate is issued; or

(b) subject to paragraph (2), after the end of that period but before the commencement of the first review of the certification.

    (2) Where a notice of appeal is given during the period specified in paragraph (1)(b) - 

(a) the appeal may proceed only with the leave of the Commission; and

(b) the notice of appeal shall be treated as including an application for leave to appeal, and must state the grounds on which the appellant applies for such leave.

Secretary of State's reply
     16.  - (1) If the Secretary of State intends to oppose an appeal, he must as soon as practicable file with the Commission a statement of the evidence upon which he relies in opposition to the appeal.

    (2) Unless the Secretary of State objects to the statement being disclosed to the appellant or his representative, he must serve a copy of the statement on the appellant at the same time as filing it.

    (3) Where the Secretary of State objects to a statement filed under paragraph (1) being disclosed to the appellant or his representative, rules 37 and 38 shall apply.

Variation of grounds of appeal
     17.  - (1) The appellant may vary the grounds of appeal only with the leave of the Commission.

    (2) The appellant must file any proposed variation of the grounds of appeal with the Commission and serve a copy on the Secretary of State.

Hearing of appeal
     18. Every appeal must be determined at a hearing before the Commission, except where - 

(a) the appeal is withdrawn by the appellant;

(b) the Secretary of State consents to the appeal being allowed; or

(c) the appellant is outside the United Kingdom or it is impracticable to give him notice of a hearing and, in either case, he is unrepresented.

Determination of appeal
     19. Where the Commission dismisses an appeal against certification - 

(a) it must serve on the parties, together with its determination, notice of when it is going to commence the first review of the certificate; and

(b) it may serve on the parties directions relating to that review.

    (2) A notice under paragraph (1)(a) must be served not later than 42 days before the commencement of the review, unless the Commission orders otherwise.

Application for review
     22.  - (1) An application for a review under section 26(4) of the 2001 Act - 

(a) must be made in writing; and

(b) must state the grounds of the application, including details of the matters relied upon as constituting a change of circumstances for the purpose of section 26(4)(b).

    (2) An application under paragraph (1) must be filed with the Commission, and a copy of the application must at the same time be served on the Secretary of State.

    (3) If the Secretary of State objects to a review being held, he must file any written representations with the Commission within 5 days of being served with the application.

    (4) If the Commission decides to hold a review - 

(a) it must send notice of when it is going to commence a review to the person certified, the Secretary of State and the relevant law officer; and

(b) it may give directions in relation to the review.

Method of conducting review
     23.  - (1) The Commission shall conduct a review as soon as reasonably practicable after the date notified to the parties as the date of commencement of the review.

    (2) Subject to paragraph (3), a review shall be conducted without an oral hearing unless the Commission orders otherwise.

    (3) The first review of a certificate shall, unless the Commission orders otherwise, be conducted at an oral hearing if there has not previously been an oral hearing of an appeal against the certificate.

    (4) Where paragraph (3) does not apply, a party or the special advocate may apply to the Commission for a review to be conducted at an oral hearing.

    (5) An application under paragraph (4) - 

(a) must be made in writing; and

(b) must state the applicant's reasons for requesting an oral hearing.

Evidence and written submissions
     24.  - (1) Subject to any directions given by the Commission, the parties must file and serve any evidence and written submissions for a review, and the special advocate must file and serve any written submissions, in accordance with this rule.

    (2) The person certified must, not later than 28 days before the review is to commence, file with the Commission and serve on the Secretary of State - 

(a) any written evidence which he wishes the Commission to take into account upon the review; and

(b) any written submissions.

    (3) The Secretary of State must, not later than 14 days before the review is to commence, file with the Commission - 

(a) a statement of the reasons for the continuation of the certificate;

(b) any written evidence upon which the Secretary of State relies to support the continuation of the certificate, other than evidence already filed upon a previous appeal against or review of the certificate;

(c) if he relies upon evidence already filed, a statement identifying that evidence and confirming that it remains true; and

(d) any written submissions.

    (4) Unless the Secretary of State objects to the material filed under paragraph (3) being disclosed to the person certified or his representative, he must serve a copy of the material on the person certified at the same time as filing it.

    (5) Where the Secretary of State objects to material filed under paragraph (3) being disclosed to the person certified or his representative, rules 37 and 38 shall apply.

    (6) The person certified may, not later than the date on which the review is to commence, file with the Commission and serve on the Secretary of State any evidence or written submissions in reply to the material served by the Secretary of State.

    (7) Where a special advocate is appointed for the purposes of a review he may, not later than the date on which the review is to commence, file with the Commission and serve on the Secretary of State any written submissions.

Determination of review
     25. Where, upon holding a review, the Commission upholds a certificate - 

(a) it shall send to the parties, together with its determination, notice of when it is going to commence the next review of the certificate; and

(b) it may send to the parties directions in relation to that review.

by persons detained under those Acts, to be released on bail.

Application for bail
     29.  - (1) An application to be released on bail must be made by filing with the Commission an application in writing.

    (2) The application must contain the following details - 

(a) the applicant's - 


(i) full name;

(ii) date of birth; and

(iii) date of arrival in the United Kingdom;



(b) the address of the place where the applicant is detained;

(c) whether there are pending before the Commission any proceedings to which the applicant is a party;

(d) the address where the applicant will reside if his application for bail is granted or, if he is unable to give such an address, the reason why an address is not given;

(e) the amount of the recognizance in which he will agree to be bound;

(f) the full names, addresses, occupations and dates of birth of any persons who have agreed to act as sureties for the applicant if bail is granted, and the amounts of the recognizances in which they will agree to be bound;

(g) the grounds on which the application is made and, where a previous application has been refused, full details of any change in circumstances which has occurred since the refusal; and

(h) whether the applicant requires an interpreter at the hearing and, if so, for what language and dialect.

    (3) The application must be signed by the applicant or his representative or, in the case of an applicant who is a child or is for any other reason incapable of acting, by a person acting on his behalf.

Bail hearing and decision
     30.  - (1) Where an application for bail is filed, the Commission must - 

(a) as soon as reasonably practicable, serve a copy of the application on the Secretary of State; and

(b) fix a hearing.

    (2) If the Secretary of State wishes to contest the application, he must file with the Commission a written statement of his reasons for doing so - 

(a) not later than 2.00 p.m. the day before the hearing; or

(b) where he received notice of the hearing less than 24 hours before that time, as soon as reasonably practicable.

    (3) If the Secretary of State objects to a statement filed under paragraph (2) being disclosed to the applicant or his representative, rules 37 and 38 shall apply.

    (4) The Commission must serve written notice of - 

(a) its decision upon an application for bail; and

(b) if and to the extent that it is possible to do so without disclosing information contrary to the public interest, the reasons for its decision,

on the applicant, the Secretary of State, and the person having custody of the applicant.

    (5) Where bail is granted, the notice must include - 

(a) the conditions of bail; and

(b) the amounts in which the applicant and any sureties are to be bound.

    (6) The recognizance of the applicant or of a surety must be in writing and must state - 

(a) the amount in which he agrees to be bound; and

(b) that he has read and understood the bail decision and that he agrees to pay that amount of money if the applicant fails to comply with the conditions set out in the bail decision.

    (7) The recognizance must be - 

(a) signed by the applicant or surety; and

(b) filed with the Commission.

    (8) The person having custody of an applicant must release him upon - 

(a) being served with a copy of the decision to grant bail; and

(b) being satisfied that any recognizances required as a condition of that decision have been entered into.

Application of this Part to Scotland
     31.  - (1) Rules 29 and 30 shall apply to Scotland with the following modifications - 

(a) in rule 29, in paragraph (2), for sub-paragraphs (e) and (f) substitute - 


" (e) the amount, if any, to be deposited if bail is granted;

(f) the full names, addresses, occupations and dates of birth of any persons offering to act as cautioners if the application for bail is granted;";



(b) in rule 30 - 



(i) in paragraph (5), for sub-paragraph (b) substitute - 


" (b) the amount (if any) to be deposited by the applicant and any cautioners.";


(ii) paragraphs (6) and (7) do not apply; and

(iii) in paragraph (8), for sub-paragraph (b) substitute - 


" (b) being satisfied that the amount to be deposited, if any, has been deposited.".

shall also apply to the United Kingdom Representative where he is a party.

Representation of parties
     33.  - (1) The appellant may act in person or be represented by - 

(a) a person having a qualification referred to in section 6(3) of the 1997 Act;

(b) a person appointed by any voluntary organisation for the time being in receipt of a grant under section 110 of the 2002 Act; or

(c) with the leave of the Commission, any other person,

provided that the person referred to in sub-paragraphs (a) to (c) is not prohibited from providing immigration services by section 84 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999[14].

    (2) The Secretary of State and the United Kingdom Representative may be represented by any person authorised by them to act on their behalf.

Appointment of special advocate
     34.  - (1) Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary of State must, upon being served with a copy of a notice of appeal or application under these Rules, give notice of the proceedings to the relevant law officer.

    (2) Paragraph (1) applies unless - 

(a) the Secretary of State does not intend to - 


(i) oppose the appeal or application; or

(ii) object to the disclosure of any material to the appellant; or



(b) a special advocate has already been appointed to represent the interests of the appellant in the proceedings.

    (3) Where notice is given to the relevant law officer under paragraph (1), the relevant law officer may appoint a special advocate to represent the interests of the appellant in proceedings before the Commission.

    (4) Where any proceedings before the Commission are pending but no special advocate has been appointed, the appellant or the Secretary of State may at any time request the relevant law officer to appoint a special advocate.

Functions of special advocate
     35. The functions of a special advocate are to represent the interests of the appellant by - 

(a) making submissions to the Commission at any hearings from which the appellant and his representatives are excluded;

(b) cross-examining witnesses at any such hearings; and

(c) making written submissions to the Commission.

Special advocate: communicating about proceedings
     36.  - (1) The special advocate may communicate with the appellant or his representative at any time before the Secretary of State serves material on him which he objects to being disclosed to the appellant.

    (2) After the Secretary of State serves material on the special advocate as mentioned in paragraph (1), the special advocate must not communicate with any person about any matter connected with the proceedings, except in accordance with paragraph (3) or a direction of the Commission pursuant to a request under paragraph (4).

    (3) The special advocate may, without directions from the Commission, communicate about the proceedings with - 

(a) the Commission;

(b) the Secretary of State, or any person acting for him;

(c) the relevant law officer, or any person acting for him;

(d) any other person, except for the appellant or his representative, with whom it is necessary for administrative purposes for him to communicate about matters not connected with the substance of the proceedings.

    (4) The special advocate may request directions from the Commission authorising him to communicate with the appellant or his representative or with any other person.

    (5) Where the special advocate makes a request for directions under paragraph (4) - 

(a) the Commission must notify the Secretary of State of the request; and

(b) the Secretary of State must, within a period specified by the Commission, file with the Commission and serve on the special advocate notice of any objection which he has to the proposed communication, or to the form in which it is proposed to be made.

    (6) Paragraph (2) does not prohibit the appellant from communicating with the special advocate after the Secretary of State has served material on him as mentioned in paragraph (1), but - 

(a) the appellant may only communicate with the special advocate through a legal representative in writing; and

(b) the special advocate must not reply to the communication other than in accordance with directions of the Commission, except that he may without such directions send a written acknowledgment of receipt to the appellant's legal representative.

Closed material
     37.  - (1) In this rule, "closed material" means material upon which the Secretary of State wishes to rely in any proceedings before the Commission, but which the Secretary of State objects to disclosing to the appellant or his representative.

    (2) The Secretary of State may not rely upon closed material unless a special advocate has been appointed to represent the interests of the appellant.

    (3) Where the Secretary of State wishes to rely upon closed material and a special advocate has been appointed, the Secretary of State must file with the Commission and serve on the special advocate - 

(a) a copy of the closed material;

(b) a statement of his reasons for objecting to its disclosure; and

(c) if and to the extent that it is possible to do so without disclosing information contrary to the public interest, a statement of the material in a form which can be served on the appellant.

    (4) The Secretary of State must, at the same time as filing it, serve on the appellant any statement filed under paragraph (3)(c).

    (5) The Secretary of State may, with the leave of the Commission, at any time amend or supplement material filed under this rule.

Consideration of Secretary of State's objection
     38.  - (1) Where the Secretary of State makes an objection under rule 36(5)(b) or rule 37, the Commission must decide in accordance with this rule whether to uphold the objection.

    (2) The Commission must fix a hearing for the Secretary of State and the special advocate to make oral representations, unless - 

(a) the special advocate gives notice to the Commission that he does not challenge the objection;

(b) the Commission has previously considered an objection by the Secretary of State to the disclosure of the same or substantially the same material, and is satisfied that it would be just to uphold the objection without a hearing; or

(c) the Secretary of State and the special advocate consent to the Commission deciding the issue without an oral hearing.

    (3) If the special advocate does not challenge the objection, he must give notice of that fact to the Commission and the Secretary of State within 14 days after the Secretary of State serves on him a notice under rule 36(5)(b) or material under rule 37(3).

    (4) Where the Commission fixes a hearing under this rule, the Secretary of State and the special advocate must before the hearing file with the Commission a schedule identifying the issues which cannot be agreed between them, which must - 

(a) list the items or issues in dispute;

(b) give brief reasons for their contentions on each; and

(c) set out any proposals for the Commission to resolve the issues in contention.

    (5) A hearing under this rule shall take place in the absence of the appellant and his representative.

    (6) The Commission may - 

(a) uphold or overrule the Secretary of State's objection; and

(b) where the Secretary of State has made an objection under rule 37(3), direct him to serve on the appellant all or part of the material which he has filed with the Commission but not served on the appellant, either in the form in which it was filed or in a different form.

    (7) Where the Commission overrules the Secretary of State's objection or directs him to serve any material on the appellant, the Secretary of State shall not be required to serve the material if he chooses not to rely upon it in the proceedings.

Directions
     39.  - (1) The Commission may give directions relating to the conduct of any proceedings.

    (2) The power to give directions is to be exercised subject to - 

(a) these Rules, including in particular the obligation in rule 4(1) to ensure that information is not disclosed contrary to the public interest; and

(b) any decision which the Commission makes under rule 38(6).

    (3) Directions under this rule may be given orally or in writing.

    (4) Subject to rule 48, the Commission must serve notice of any written directions on every party.

    (5) Directions given under this rule may in particular - 

(a) specify the length of time allowed for anything to be done;

(b) vary any time limit;

(c) require any party to file and serve - 


(i) further details of his case, or any other information which appears to be necessary for the determination of the appeal or application;

(ii) witness statements;

(iii) written submissions;

(iv) a statement of any interpretation requirements; or

(v) any other document;



(d) provide for - 



(i) a particular matter to be dealt with as a preliminary issue; or

(ii) a pre-hearing review to be held;



(e) relate to any matter concerning the preparation for a hearing;

(f) specify - 



(i) the manner in which any evidence is to be given; and

(ii) the witnesses, if any, to be heard;



(g) provide for a hearing to be conducted or evidence given or representations made by video link or by other electronic means; and

(h) make provision to secure the anonymity of the appellant or a witness.

    (6) The power to give directions may be exercised in the absence of the parties.

Failure to comply with directions
     40.  - (1) Where a party or the special advocate fails to comply with a direction, the Commission may serve on him a notice which states - 

(a) the respect in which he has failed to comply with the direction;

(b) a time limit for complying with the direction; and

(c) that the Commission may proceed to determine the appeal on the material available to it if the party or the special advocate fails to comply with the relevant direction within the time specified.

    (2) Where a party or special advocate fails to comply with such a notice, the Commission may proceed in accordance with paragraph (1)(c).

Notification of hearing
     41. Unless the Commission orders otherwise, it must serve notice of the date, time and place fixed for any hearing on - 

(a) every party, whether or not entitled to attend that hearing; and

(b) the special advocate, if one has been appointed.

Adjournment of hearing
     42. The Commission may adjourn the hearing of any proceedings.

Hearings in private
     43.  - (1) If the Commission considers it necessary for the appellant and his representative to be excluded from a hearing or part of a hearing in order to secure that information is not disclosed contrary to the public interest, it must - 

(a) direct accordingly; and

(b) conduct the hearing, or that part of it from which the appellant and his representative are excluded, in private.

    (2) The Commission may conduct a hearing or part of a hearing in private for any other good reason.

Evidence
     44.  - (1) Subject to these Rules, the evidence of witnesses may be given either - 

(a) orally, before the Commission;

(b) in writing, in which case it shall be given in such a manner and at such time as the Commission directs.

    (2) The Commission may also receive evidence in documentary or any other form.

    (3) The Commission may receive evidence that would not be admissible in a court of law.

    (4) No person shall be compelled to give evidence or produce a document which he could not be compelled to give or produce on the trial of a civil claim in the part of the United Kingdom in which the proceedings before the Commission are taking place.

    (5) Every party shall be entitled to adduce evidence and to cross-examine witnesses during any part of a hearing from which he and his representative are not excluded.

    (6) The Commission may require a witness to give evidence on oath.

Summoning of witnesses
     45.  - (1) Subject to these Rules, the Commission may, by issuing a summons, require any person in the United Kingdom - 

(a) to attend as a witness at the hearing of any proceedings before the Commission; and

(b) at the hearing, to answer any questions or produce any documents in his custody or under his control which relate to any matter in issue in the proceedings.

    (2) No person shall be required to attend a hearing in compliance with a summons issued under paragraph (1) unless - 

(a) the summons is served on him; and

(b) the necessary expenses of his attendance are paid or tendered to him.

    (3) Where a summons is issued at the request of a party, that party must pay or tender the expenses of the witness.

Hearing two or more proceedings together
     46.  - (1) Where two or more appeals, applications or reviews are pending at the same time, the Commission may direct them to be heard together if - 

(a) some common question of law or fact arises in each of them;

(b) they relate to decisions or action taken in respect of persons who are members of the same family; or

(c) for some other reason it is desirable for the proceedings to be heard together.

    (2) Except where section 27(7) and (8) of the 2001 Act applies, the Commission must give all the parties who would be entitled to attend the hearing of the proceedings an opportunity to make representations before hearing proceedings together under this rule.

Giving of determination
     47.  - (1) This rule applies when the Commission determines any proceedings.

    (2) The Commission must record its decision and the reasons for it.

    (3) The Commission must serve on the parties a written determination containing its decision and, if and to the extent that it is possible to do so without disclosing information contrary to the public interest, the reasons for it.

    (4) Where the determination under paragraph (3) does not include the full reasons for its decision, the Commission must serve on the Secretary of State and the special advocate a separate determination including those reasons.

Application by Secretary of State for reconsideration of decision
     48.  - (1) This rule applies where the Commission proposes to serve notice on the appellant of - 

(a) any order or direction made or given in the absence of the Secretary of State; or

(b) its determination of the proceedings.

    (2) Before the Commission serves any such notice on the appellant, it must first serve notice on the Secretary of State of its intention to do so.

    (3) The Secretary of State may, within 5 days of being served with notice under paragraph (2), apply to the Commission to reconsider the order or direction or to review the proposed determination if he considers that - 

(a) his compliance with the order or direction; or

(b) the notification to the appellant of any matter contained in the order, direction or determination,

would cause information to be disclosed contrary to the public interest.

    (4) Where the Secretary of State makes an application under paragraph (3), he must at the same time serve a copy of it on the special advocate, if one has been appointed.

    (5) Rule 38, except for paragraphs (6)(b) and (7) of that rule, shall, if a special advocate has been appointed, apply with any necessary modifications to the consideration of an application under paragraph (3) of this rule.

    (6) The Commission must not serve notice on the appellant as mentioned in paragraph (1) before the time for the Secretary of State to make an application under paragraph (3) has expired.

Filing and service of documents
     49.  - (1) Any document which is required or permitted by these Rules or by an order of the Commission to be filed with the Commission or served on any person may be - 

(a) delivered or sent by post to an address;

(b) sent by fax to a fax number; or

(c) sent by e-mail to an e-mail address,

specified for that purpose by the Commission or the person to which the document is directed.

    (2) A document to be served on an individual may be served personally by leaving it with that individual.

    (3) Subject to paragraph (4), if any document is served on a person who has notified the Commission that he is acting as the representative of a party, it shall be deemed to have been served on that party.

    (4) Paragraph (3) does not apply if the Commission directs that a document is to be served on both a party and his representative.

    (5) Any document that is served on a person in accordance with this rule shall, unless the contrary is proved, be deemed to be served - 

(a) where the document is sent by post from and to a place within the United Kingdom, on the second day after it was sent;

(b) where the document is sent by post from or to a place outside the United Kingdom, on the twenty-eighth day after it was sent; and

(c) in any other case, on the day on which the document was sent or delivered to, or left with, that person.

    (6) Any document which is filed with the Commission shall be treated as being filed on the day on which it is received by the Commission.

Address for service
     50.  - (1) Every party, and any person representing a party or acting as special advocate, must notify the Commission of a postal address at which documents may be served on him and of any changes to that address.

    (2) Until a party, representative or special advocate notifies the Commission of a change of address, any document served on him at the most recent address he has given to the Commission shall be deemed to have been properly served on him.

Calculation of time
     51.  - (1) Where a period of time for doing any act is specified by these Rules or by a direction of the Commission, that period is to be calculated - 

(a) excluding the day on which the period begins; and

(b) where the period is 10 days or less, excluding any day which is not a business day.

    (2) Where the time specified by these Rules or by a direction of the Commission for doing any act ends on a day which is not a business day, that act is done in time if it is done on the next business day.

    (3) In this rule, "business day" means any day other than a Saturday or Sunday, a bank holiday, Christmas Day, 27th to 31st December or Good Friday.

Signature of documents
     52. Any requirement in these Rules for a document to be signed shall be satisfied, in the case of a document which is filed or served by e-mail in accordance with these Rules, by the person who is required to sign the document typing his name in it.

Errors of procedure
     53. Where in any proceedings, before they have been determined by the Commission, there has been an error of procedure such as a failure to comply with a rule - 

(a) subject to these Rules, the error does not invalidate any step taken in the proceedings unless the Commission so orders; and

(b) the Commission may make an order or take any other step that it considers appropriate to remedy the error.

Correction of orders and determinations
     54.  - (1) The Commission may at any time amend an order or determination to correct a clerical error or other accidental slip or omission.

    (2) Where an order or determination is amended under this rule - 

(a) the Commission must serve the amended order or determination on every person on whom the original order or determination was served; and

(b) the time within which a party may apply for permission to appeal against an amended determination runs from the date on which the party is served with the amended determination.

(a) the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (Procedure) Rules 1998[15] ("the 1998 Rules"); and

(b) the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (Procedure) (Amendment) Rules 2000[16].

Transitional provisions
     56.  - (1) These Rules shall apply - 

(a) with appropriate modifications, to any proceedings pending on the date on which they come into force, to which immediately before that date the 1998 Rules applied; and

(b) to any appeal under section 2B of the 1997 Act[17] pending on the date on which these Rules come into force.

    (2) In relation to any proceedings pending on the date on which these Rules come into force, anything done or any direction given before that date under the 1998 Rules or under any other powers of the Commission shall be treated as if done or given under these Rules.

    (3) If - 

(a) a notice of appeal is given or an application is made to the Commission within 5 days of the date on which these Rules come into force; and

(b) the notice of appeal or application would have been given or made in time if these Rules had not come into force,

the notice of appeal or application shall be treated as being given or made in time, notwithstanding any time limit in these Rules.


Irvine of Lairg,
C.

Dated 1st April 2003

[2] 2001 c.24.back

[3] 1997 c.68. The 1997 Act is amended by section 35 of the 2001 Act and by section 4 of and Schedule 7 to the 2002 Act.back

[4] 2002 c.41.back

[5] 1997 c.68. Section 2B is inserted by section 4(2) of the 2002 Act.back

[6] 1981 c.61.back

[7] 1997 c.68. Paragraph 5 of Schedule 1 is amended by paragraph 25 of Schedule 7 to the 2002 Act.back

[8] 1997 c.68. Section 2 is substituted by paragraph 20 of Schedule 7 to the 2002 Act, and section 2B is inserted by section 4(2) of the 2002 Act.back

[9] 1997 c.68. Section 2 is substituted by paragraph 20 of Schedule 7 to the 2002 Act.back

[10] 2002 c.41. Section 85(2) applies in relation to an appeal to the Commission against an immigration decision by virtue of section 2(2)(f) of the 1997 Act as substituted by paragraph 20 of Schedule 7 to the 2002 Act.back

[11] 1997 c.68. Section 2 is substituted by paragraph 20 of Schedule 7 to the 2002 Act.back

[12] 2002 c.41. Section 104(4) applies in relation to an appeal to the Commission against an immigration decision by virtue of section 2(2)(j) of the 1997 Act as substituted by paragraph 20 of Schedule 7 to the 2002 Act.back

[13] 2002 c.41. Section 104(5) applies in relation to an appeal to the Commission against an immigration decision by virtue of section 2(2)(j) of the 1997 Act as substituted by paragraph 20 of Schedule 7 to the 2002 Act.back

[14] 1999 c.33.back

[15] S.I. 1998/1881, as amended by S.I. 2000/1849.back

[16] S.I. 2000/1849.back

[17] 1997 c.68. Section 2B is inserted by section 4(2) of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002.back