News
The Home Secretary has announced the Government's intention to lift the UK's immigration reservation to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The UK had initially entered its reservation when it ratified the Convention in 1991, restricting the rights of children who are subject to immigration control. More info
The first UK Identity Card has been unveiled by the Home Secretary as part of Government plans to issue ID cards to all foreign nationals from November 2008. The card will show the holder's photograph, name, date of birth, nationality and immigration status. An electronic chip will also hold their biometric details, including fingerprints, and a digital facial image.
The Council of Europe has launched a series of podcasts aimed at explaining its work to the general public. The audio files of around three to four minutes take the form of short interviews with experts working in areas covered by the Council. The podcasts can be downloaded on the Council of Europe website.
On the 23rd September 2008, the head office of the Legal Services Commission has moved to:
4 Abbey Orchard Street
London
SW1P 2BS
DX: 328 London
0207 783 7000
http://www.legalservices.gov.uk/aboutus/whats_new_8740.asp
Cases
In two decisions from the Administrative Court, Blake J. found in R(On the application of AK and others) v Secretary of State for the Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs and Secretary of State for Defence QBD (Admin) (Blake J) 10/9/2008 that there was no reasonable prospect of a successful challenge to the eligibility criteria for the British government's ex gratia scheme, under which Iraqi staff working for the British armed forces and civilian missions in Iraq could apply for exceptional leave to enter the United Kingdom.
Whilst in R (On the application of C) v Secretary of State for the Home Department QBD (Admin) (Judge Jarman) 23/9/2008 Jarman J. held that it was within the Secretary of State's discretion not to grant an overstayer, who had committed a serious offence, humanitarian protection, but rather grant him leave to remain for six months at a time.
In SD (expert evidence) Lebanon [2008] UKAIT 00070, the Tribunal held that where an expert refers the Tribunal to cases in which his expertise has been accepted or acknowledged or in which he has received praise, he must, at the same time, refer to the Tribunal to any cases which he is aware of and which may detract from what is said about him in the cases he has referred to.
Courses
On Tuesday 7 October from 16:00 to 19:00 in London, HJT Training is running a course reviewing the main requirements of the supervisor's element of the Accreditation Course. It includes worked examples of model exam questions.
