HC Deb 23 November 2000 vol 357 c293W
Fiona Mactaggart

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases the civil penalty provisions of section 32 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 have been enforced. [139714]

Mrs. Roche

The Civil Penalty provisions of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 came into force in respect of vehicles on 3 April 2000. As at 20 November 2000, 617 penalty notices have been served in respect of vehicles containing 3,507 clandestine entrants. In financial terms this represents £7,014,000 in penalties.

Fiona Mactaggart

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the civil penalty provisions of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 are being implemented. [139716]

Mrs. Roche

The Civil Penalty provisions of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 came into force in respect of vehicles on 3 April 2000. The provisions were initially implemented at Dover and Coquelles but have been applied nationally since 3 July.

It is proposed to extend the Civil Penalty provisions to clandestine arrivals by rail freight early next year. The requisite consultation process has recently commenced.