A consultation paper on the Legal Aid Arrangements for Onward Appeals from the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal setting out the proposals for new legal aid arrangements for challenges to the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT) was published on 12 April 2005. The draft Regulations in the consultation paper will provide for those arrangements in Northern Ireland, giving effect to the framework established under section 26 of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act 2004.

This consultation is being conducted in line with the Government's Code on Consultation and is targeted at a limited number of stakeholders who have the specialist knowledge and experience to comment on the proposed changes to the legal aid arrangements for immigration and asylum appeals in Northern Ireland.

The draft Rules that accompany this consultation paper are as follows:  

Draft Legal Aid (Scope) Regulations 2005

Draft Legal Aid (Asylum and Immigration) Regulations 2005