FDA -v- Secretary of State for the Cabinet Office and another
Claim number: AC-2024-LON-001503
In the High Court of Justice
King’s Bench Division
Administrative Court
28 May 2024
Before:
The Hon. Mr Justice Chamberlain
Between:
The King on the application of
FDA
-v-
Secretary of State for the Cabinet Office
Minister for the Civil Service
and
Secretary of State for the Home Department
(interested party)
Order
On the defendants’ and interested party’s application to extend time for compliance with the Court’s order of 23 May 2024 until 12 noon on Tuesday 28 May 2024
ORDER by the Hon. Mr Justice Chamberlain:
Time for compliance with the Court’s order of 23 May 2024 (which required the defendant to state the earliest date on which the Government intend to begin removals to Rwanda) time is extended to 12 noon on 28 May 2024.
NB: The existing directions leading to the hearing on 6 June 2024 remain in place. Preparation for the hearing must therefore continue.
Reasons
The timetable for this claim was set on the basis that removals to Rwanda would begin at the earliest on 1 July 2024. The Government then changed its position, saying that removals could begin in the week commencing 24 June 2024. Following the announcement of a General Election, the Prime Minister has said that removals will begin “in July”. That provides insufficient clarity for the purposes of timetabling this claim. Accordingly, in my Order of 23 May 2024, I directed the defendants and interested party to state by 4pm today the earliest date on which the Government intend to begin removals to Rwanda. They are apparently unable at present to do so. However, the order was only served this morning, so an extension to 12 noon on the next working day is appropriate. The parties should continue to prepare for the existing hearing, fixed for 6 June 2024.