THE QUESTION: From Humfrey Malin, Shadow Asylum Minister. "To ask
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the Secretary of State for the Home Office 'David Blunkett] what his policy is in relation to the reimbursement of penalties paid by road hauliers for carrying illegal immigrants; what his policy is concerning unpaid penalties; and if he will make a statement."
THE ANSWER: From Beverley Hughes, Immigration Minister.
"The Government's position on the reimbursement of penalties paid under the previous civil penalty regime is clear. We are under no obligation to return any of the money paid against penalties imposed in cases which were not part of the Roth litigation. The previous legislation was not found to be unlawful. Theoretically, unpaid penalties could have been enforced but, in the light of the Court of Appeal's findings in Roth, we considered it appropriate not to take enforcement action in respect of outstanding penalties."