HC Deb 11 July 2000 vol 353 cc535-6W
Mr. Alasdair Morgan

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the haulage companies charged under the Carriers' Liability (Clandestine Entrants and Sale of Transporters) Regulations 2000 have been charged on more than one occasion. [129793]

Mrs. Roche

Four.

Mr. Alasdair Morgan

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the haulage companies charged under the Carriers' Liability (Clandestine Entrants and Sale of Transporters) Regulations 2000 were registered in Scotland. [129792]

Mrs. Roche

Of a total of 233 penalties raised by 6 July 2000, 59 had been raised against British registered companies. Records relating specifically to Scottish registered companies are not kept separately.

Mr. Alasdair Morgan

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on(a) the effectiveness and (b) the effect upon the haulage industry of the Carriers' Liability (Clandestine Entrants and Sale of Transporters) Regulations 2000. [129797]

Mrs. Roche

The civil penalty provisions of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 were introduced as recently as 3 April 2000. Provisional figures indicate that the number of illegal entrants detected in Kent since the introduction of the provisions has fallen by 25 per cent., and that the number detected nationally has fallen by about 22 per cent. Total penalties imposed up to 6 July 2000 amount to £2,530,000.

There is now an obligation on lorry drivers to search their vehicles before they embark for the United Kingdom. A code of practice established in consultation with the industry protects drivers from the imposition of a civil penalty if they can show that they have complied with its terms.

Mr. Alasdair Morgan

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hauliers convicted of transporting clandestine entrants into the United Kingdom since the implementation of the Carriers' Liability (Clandestine Entrants and Sale of Transporters) Regulations 2000 have been fined, for each particular incident(a) £2,000, (b) £4,000, (c) £6,000, (d) £8,000, (e) £10,000, (f) £12,000, (g) £14,000, (h) £16,000, (i) £18,000, (j) £20,000, (k) £22,000, (l) £24,000, (m) £26,000, (n) £28,000, (o) £30,000, (p) £32,000, (q) £34,000, (r) £36,000, (s) £38,000, (t) £40,000, (u) £42,000, (v) £44,000, (w) £46,000, (x) £48,000, (y) £50,000 and (z) £52,000 and over. [129956]

Mrs. Roche

The Civil penalty is set at £2,000 for each clandestine illegal entrant found concealed in a transporter. Penalties imposed thus far have been as follows. Fourteen charges of £2,000; 31 charges of £4,000; 49 charges of £6,000; 37 charges of £8,000; 27 charges of £10,000; 18 charges of £12,000; 15 charges of £14,000; eight charges of £16,000; 10 charges of £18,000; five charges of £20,000; seven charges of £22,000; one charge of £24,000; two charges of £26,000; one charge of £28,000; one charge of £32,000; one charge of £36,000; two charges of £38,000; one charge of £42,000; one charge of £44,000; one charge of £46,000; one charge of £50,000; and one charge of £100,000.