Government ministers have drawn up plans to speed up immigration and asylum appeals for detained foreign nationals.

Plans published on Tuesday (April 18) by the Ministry of Justice could speed up the appeals process for foreign nationals detained in immigration centres such as IRC Harmondsworth , near Heathrow .

Ministers claim the new rules could speed up as many as 2,000 appeals cases every year, saving the taxpayer £2.7million.

The new plans, if approved following consultations, would see the time limit between the Home Office decision to an individual from the country and their first tier tribunal appeal, limited to 25 to 28 working days.

IRC Harmondsworth

This would shave a third off the current 36 working day average wait faced by failed asylum seekers and detained foreign criminals.

Justice Secretary Liz Truss said: "It is vital that foreign nationals who have no right to remain in the country should be removed as quickly as possible.

"We must ensure that foreign criminals and failed asylum seekers are not exploiting the justice system by attempting to stay in the UK after their claims have been rejected.

"Our proposals are also better for detainees as it will see their detention time cut."

Harmondsworth Detention Centre

The new proposals could also see new safeguards implemented, including a case management review and giving judges strengthened powers to decide whether cases can be expedited.

The proposal would replace the old detained fast track appeals system which was brought to an end in 2015 following a judgement by the Court of Appeal.

The plans have been submitted to the independent Tribunal Procedure Committee to consider whether, and how, the new rules should be implemented.