Stowaway fines: Home Office refuses to talk
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• The Home Office has rebuffed calls for a proper consultation process over the new maximum 24,000 stowaway fines, but a spokeswoman promises haulage groups that they will have a chance to have their say "in due course" (CM2-8 May).
The move follows a wave of protest from trade associations and lawyers about the amendments to the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill which have been Introduced without discussion with industry.
The HO spokeswoman adds: "Because these are amendments to existing legislation they don't require a full consultation, In due course they will be tabled in the House and the road
haulage Industry will receive and a letter; then there will be an opportunity to comment." The spokeswoman also says that new Industry guidelines will be issued about how the variable fine system will work.
The Freight Transport Association had not yet had a reply from Immigration Minister Lord Jeffrey Rooker to a letter sent a fortnight ago raising its concerns about the lack of consultation.
The Road Haulage Association International Road Transport Union have also written to the Home Office, protesting at the way the changes were leaked.