HC Deb 29 June 2000 vol 352 cc583-4W
Mr. Alasdair Morgan

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many notices of objection lodged by hauliers allegedly transporting clandestine entrants into the UK have been(a) upheld and (b) rejected in each month since the coming into force of the Carriers' Liability (Clandestine Entrants and Sale of Transporters) Regulations 2000. [127874]

Mrs. Roche

As at 25 June 2000, there have been 159 cases where notices of objection have been lodged against a penalty imposed in accordance with the Civil Penalty provisions of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. Of those that have been determined, four notices of objection have been upheld and 62 rejected.

It is not possible to break these figures down on a monthly basis.

Mr. Alasdair Morgan

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many haulage contractors were charged under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, in each month since April, with bringing clandestine entrants into the UK. [127978]

Mrs. Roche

The number of haulage contractors charged under the Civil Penalty provisions of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 in each month since April was:

Month Number
April 72
May 84
June(to 25) 55
Total 211

Mr. Alasdair Morgan

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the average fine imposed on hauliers for transporting clandestine entrants into the UK since the coming into force of the Carriers' Liability (Clandestine Entrants and Sale of Transporters) Regulations 2000. [127873]

Mrs. Roche

The Carriers' Liability (Clandestine Entrants and Sales of Transporters) Regulations 2000 enables the imposition of a penalty of £2,000 for each clandestine entrant transported to the United Kingdom.

As at 25 June, 211 penalty notices, with a total value of £2,336,000 had been served in relation to 1,168 clandestine entrants. Twenty-four of the penalty notices served relate to vehicles that between them carried 367 clandestine entrants, with an average penalty of £30,000 in respect of 15 entrants for each vehicle. The remaining 187 penalties relate to vehicles that between them carried 801 clandestine entrants, with an average penalty of £8,000 in respect of four entrants for each vehicle.

Mr. Alasdair Morgan

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the value of fines levied on hauliers charged under the Carriers' Liability (Clandestine Entrants and Sale of Transporters) Regulations 2000 in each month since April. [127872]

Mrs. Roche

As at 25 June, the value of penalties raised on persons under the Carriers' Liability (Clandestine Entrants and Sales of Transporters) Regulations 2000 in each month since April were as follows:

Month £
April 848,000
May 838,000
June 650,000
Total 2,336,000