HC Deb 18 December 1995 vol 268 cc958-9W
Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the cost to employers of implementing the proposed sanctions against the employment of illegal immigrants. [6287]

Miss Widdecombe

I refer the hon. Member to the explanatory and financial memorandum to the Asylum and Immigration Bill, published on 29 November.

Mr. Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he plans to introduce to ensure European Community nationals seeking employment in the United Kingdom are not illegally discriminated against as a result of the proposed sanctions in respect of the employment of illegal immigrants. [6289]

Miss Widdecombe

Under the proposals set out in the consultation document which we issued on 20 November, a European economic area passport or identity document would be one of the documents regarded as demonstrating entitlement to live and work in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of illegal immigrants working currently in the United Kingdom. [6288]

Miss Widdecombe

As my right hon. and learned Friend made clear in the House on 11 December, the precise scale of illegal working is unknown. However, the immigration service detected more than 10,000 people working here illegally in 1994.

Mr. Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice he plans to give to employers concerning the proposed sanctions against the employment of illegal immigrants; and what the cost of providing that information will be. [6290]

Miss Widdecombe

As explained in the consultation document issued on 20 November, the Home Office will provide full advice to employers about the new offence and its implications for employers, including leaflets and a helpline number to contact if they have any doubts about documentation presented to them. It is not possible at this stage to provide estimates of the cost involved, but it is unlikely to he substantial.