Part 4 U.K.Immigration and Asylum

Suspected international terroristsU.K.

30 Legal proceedings: derogationU.K.

(1)In this section “derogation matter” means—

(a)a derogation by the United Kingdom from Article 5(1) of the Convention on Human Rights which relates to the detention of a person where there is an intention to remove or deport him from the United Kingdom, or

(b)the designation under section 14(1) of the Human Rights Act 1998 (c. 42) of a derogation within paragraph (a) above.

(2)A derogation matter may be questioned in legal proceedings only before the Special Immigration Appeals Commission; and the Commission—

(a)is the appropriate tribunal for the purpose of section 7 of the Human Rights Act 1998 in relation to proceedings all or part of which call a derogation matter into question; and

(b)may hear proceedings which could, but for this subsection, be brought in the High Court or the Court of Session.

(3)In relation to proceedings brought by virtue of subsection (2)—

(a)section 6 of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission Act 1997 (c. 68) (person to represent appellant’s interests) shall apply with the reference to the appellant being treated as a reference to any party to the proceedings,

(b)rules under section 5 or 8 of that Act (general procedure; and leave to appeal) shall apply with any modification which the Commission considers necessary, and

(c)in the case of proceedings brought by virtue of subsection (2)(b), the Commission may do anything which the High Court may do (in the case of proceedings which could have been brought in that court) or which the Court of Session may do (in the case of proceedings which could have been brought in that court).

(4)The Commission’s power to award costs (or, in Scotland, expenses) by virtue of subsection (3)(c) may be exercised only in relation to such part of proceedings before it as calls a derogation matter into question.

(5)In relation to proceedings brought by virtue of subsection (2)(a) or (b)—

(a)an appeal may be brought to the appropriate appeal court (within the meaning of section 7 of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission Act 1997 (c. 68)) with the leave of the Commission or, if that leave is refused, with the leave of the appropriate appeal court, and

(b)the appropriate appeal court may consider and do only those things which it could consider and do in an appeal brought from the High Court or the Court of Session in proceedings for judicial review.

(6)In relation to proceedings which are entertained by the Commission under subsection (2) but are not brought by virtue of subsection (2)(a) or (b), subsection (4) shall apply in so far as the proceedings call a derogation matter into question.

(7)In this section “the Convention on Human Rights” has the meaning given to “the Convention” by section 21(1) of the Human Rights Act 1998 (c. 42).