§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many projects has the Immigration and Nationality Directorate initiated against organised crime during 1999–2000 to date; and what proportion of all such projects commenced by the Directorate are now being completed within 12 months. [107782]
§ Mrs. RocheThe Immigration Service is currently conducting 27 projects against organised crime, six of which have been initiated since April 1999. It is anticipated that 40 per cent. of all such projects will reach conclusion within 12 months.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of marriage abuse, unscrupulous representatives or illegal employment the Immigration and Nationality Directorate has prepared for prosecution so far during 1999–2000. [107774]
§ Mrs. RocheSince April 1999, the Immigration Service has prepared 229 cases for possible prosecution and passed them to the Crown Prosecution Service for consideration. Of the total, 180 cases were prepared against facilitators and 49 involved other forms of abuse of the immigration law. Information is not held centrally that would enable us to break down these figures further.