§ 24. Fiona MactaggartTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the penalties available to ensure road hauliers do not bring illegal immigrants into the United Kingdom. [103985]
§ Mrs. RocheUnder Section 25 of the Immigration Act 1971, it is a criminal offence to facilitate the entry to the United Kingdom of an illegal entrant, or asylum claimant. The penalty, on summary conviction, is a fine of not more than £5,000 or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both; conviction on indictment is punishable by a fine or imprisonment for not more than seven years, or both. That period is increased under Section 29 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 to ten years.
Section 32–37 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 make provision for a civil penalty to be imposed for the carriage of a clandestine entrant to the United Kingdom. Subject to the laying of enabling regulations before Parliament in the near future, it is envisaged that the penalty will be the sum of £2,000 for each clandestine entrant.