§ Mr. MalinsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to recover the sums outstanding under the Immigration (Carriers Liability) Act 1987. [25945]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienSums due as a result of charge liabilities under the Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Act 1987 (ICLA) are public moneys owed to the Consolidated Fund of Her Majesty's Treasury. The Ports Directorate of the Immigration Service is responsible for recovering amounts owed by carriers under the ICLA and pursues a pro-active debt recovery strategy aimed at reducing the amounts outstanding as quickly as possible.
§ Mr. MalinsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the amount of charges(a) levied and (b) recovered under the Immigration (Carriers Liability) Act 1987 in relation to offences under that Act at each airport in the United Kingdom for each of the last 10 years. [25952]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThese figures are available only for 1997 and are set out in the table. Figures before 1997 could be produced only at disproportionate cost. It must be made clear that some of the incurred charges may have been paid since these statistics were compiled or may be about to be paid under an agreement negotiated with the Home Office.
340W
Airport Incurred (£) Paid (£) Aberdeen 4,000 0 Belfast 14,000 16,000 Birmingham 60,000 14,000 Bournemouth 0 0 Bristol 8,000 10,000 Brize Norton 0 0
Airport Incurred (£) Paid (£) Cambridge 0 0 Cardiff 0 0 East Midlands 4,000 4,000 Edinburgh 28,000 20,000 Gatwick North 728,000 1,090,000 Gatwick South 1,720,000 1,103,000 Glasgow 54,000 42,000 Heathrow 1 1,388,000 1,358,000 Heathrow 2 2,004,000 1,544,000 Heathrow 3 3,250,000 2,642,000 Heathrow 4 1,358,000 1,442,000 Humberside 20,000 32,000 Leeds/Bradford 2,000 2,000 Liverpool 0 0 London City 92,000 50,000 Luton 108,000 50,000 Manchester 1 194,000 172,000 Manchester 2 112,000 130,000 Mildenhall 0 0 Newcastle 18,000 18,000 Norwich 4,000 4,000 Plymouth 0 0 Prestwick 0 0 Southend 0 0 Stansted 142,000 192,000 Swansea 0 0 Teeside 0 0
§ Mr. MalinsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is his policy to allow airlines which owe charges under the Immigration (Carriers Liability) Act 1987 to continue to use United Kingdom airports. [25944]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThere is no power under the Immigration (Carriers Liability) Act 1987 to refuse or prevent carriers who owe moneys under the Act from continuing to use United Kingdom airports.
There is, however, an active debt recovery programme operated by the Carriers' Liaison Section of Immigration Service Headquarters and litigation is considered in cases where a carrier unduly procrastinates or refuses to pay any debt, or where a carrier is in default of any agreement to settle charges.
§ Mr. MalinsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what charges were outstanding under the Immigration (Carriers Liability) Act 1987 on 1 January in each of the past 10 years. [25946]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe figures requested are as follow:
Date Outstanding debt £ 1 January 1988 2,361,000 1 January 1989 4,368,000 1 January 1990 10,170,000 1 January 1991 15,653,000 1 January 1992 19,440,000 1 January 1993 25,775,000 1 January 1994 22,003.000 1 January 1995 24,527,000 1 January 1996 18,746,000 1 January 1997 15,065,996 1 January 1998 11,399,073