Written question asked by Roger Gale (Conservative) on Tuesday, 6 June 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 12 June 2000. It was answered by Barbara Roche (Labour) on Monday, 12 June 2000 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much money has been received by public funds in the last five years in fines levied upon foreign lorry drivers apprehended for importing asylum seekers into the United Kingdom. - Includes figures.

Answer: Mr. Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money has been received by public funds in the last five years in fines levied upon foreign lorry drivers apprehended for importing asylum seekers into the United Kingdom. [125271] Mrs. Roche: Since the coming into force of the civil penalty provisions of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, a total of £12,000 in penalties has been paid by foreign lorry drivers or their employers. In addition, a further £105,829 has been paid by foreign lorry drivers or their employers to secure the release of vehicles which had been detained pending payment of the penalty. These provisions of the Act came into force only on 3 April this year, so no sum actually fell to be paid until 4 June 2000. Statistical information relating to the sums of money imposed in fines on those convicted in the courts for the offence of facilitation of illegal entry does not record separately the amounts paid by foreign lorry drivers

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 125271; 351 c507-8W
Session: 1999-00
Subjects: Asylum Finance Undocumented migrants Fines Large goods vehicles Migrant workers Refugees
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk