Amendments to the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (Procedure) Rules 20038

After rule 9, insert—

Directions hearing9A

1

The Commission must, unless it orders otherwise, fix a directions hearing as soon as reasonably practicable after notice of appeal is filed under rule 7, at which the parties and their representatives, and any special advocate, may be present.

2

At a directions hearing the Commission may give directions as to the order in which, and the time within which, the following documents are to be filed and served—

a

the statement and any material to be filed by the Secretary of State under rule 10(1);

b

any statement to be filed and served by the appellant under rule 10A(1);

c

any application to be made by the appellant or the special advocate under rule 10A(5);

d

any statement or material to be filed under rule 10A(2) or pursuant to a direction under rule 10A(7), or served under rule 10A(8), by the Secretary of State;

e

closed material, to be served by the Secretary of State on the special advocate under rule 10(4), 10A(8)(a) or 37(3);

f

any reply by the special advocate under rule 38(4)(a) to any objection by the Secretary of State to disclosure;

g

any response by the Secretary of State under rule 38(4)(b) to the special advocate’s reply;

h

any skeleton arguments on behalf of the parties and the special advocate.

3

The Commission may also give directions as to the date of—

a

any hearing of an application for bail under Part 6 of these Rules;

b

any hearing under rule 38;

c

the hearing of the appeal under rule 12.