Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted forpeople smuggling offences in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [29641]Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The available information, from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database, relating to England and Wales for theyears 1996 to 2000, is shown in the table. These data cover proceedings under the Immigration Act 1971 sec. 25(1) (a), (b) and (c)as amended by the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 Sec.5.Statistics for 2001 are not yet available.My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has already indicated his intention to increase the maximum penalty for these offences to 14years, and a range of further measures are under consideration.Persons proceeded against and convicted at all courts for offences under the Immigration Act 1974 sec. 25 (1) (a), (b) and (c)England and Wales 1996 to 2000_________________________________________________________________________________________________.Offence description Principal 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000{ 2}statuteProceeded against{ 1}Knowingly concerned in Immigration Act 153 173 193 233 199making or carrying out 1974 sec.arrangements for 25(1)(a) assecuring or facilitating amended bythe entry into the UK of Asylum andanyone whom he knows or Immigration Acthas reasonable cause for 1996 s.5believing to be anillegal entrantKnowingly concerned in Immigration Act {3}-- 4 4 20 11making or carry out 1974 sec.arrangements for 25(1)(b) assecuring or facilitating added by Asylumthe entry into the UK of and Immigrationanyone whom he knows or Act 1996 s.5has reasonable cause forbelieving to be anasylum claimantKnowingly concerned in Immigration Act {3}-- 4 13 11 12making or carrying out 1974 sec.arrangements for 25(1)(c) assecuring or facilitating added by Asylumthe obtaining by anyone and Immigrationof leave to remain in Act 1996 s.5the UK by means which heknows or has reasonablecause for believing toinclude deceptionTotal 153 181 210 264 222Found guilty{1}Knowingly concerned in Immigration Act 123 130 115 150 145making or carrying out 1974 sec.arrangements for 25(1)(a) assecuring or facilitating amended bythe entry into the UK of Asylum andanyone whom he knows or Immigration Acthas reasonable cause for 1996 s.5believing to be anillegal entrantKnowingly concerned in Immigration Act {3}-- -- 3 6 3making or carry out 1974 sec.arrangements for 25(1)(b) assecuring or facilitating added by Asylumthe entry into the UK of and Immigrationanyone whom he knows or Act 1996 s.5has reasonable cause forbelieving to be anasylum claimantKnowingly concerned in Immigration Act {3}-- 1 5 6 11making or carrying out 1974 sec.arrangements for 25(1)(c) assecuring or facilitating added by Asylumthe obtaining by anyone and Immigrationof leave to remain in Act 1996 s.5the UK by means which heknows or has reasonablecause for believing toinclude deceptionTotal 123 131 123 162 159_________________________________________________________________________________________________.{1} Figures provided are on the principal immigration offence basis {2} Staffordshire police force were only able to submit sampledata for persons proceeded against and convicted in the magistrates courts for the year 2000. Although sufficient to estimate higherorders of data these data are not robust at a detailed level and have been excluded from this table. {3} Not applicable.