Yes, Minister
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TTread your recent article setting out your views on the Government's plans to impose a civil penalty on drivers who carry illegal entrants to the UK (CM 14-20 Jan) and wish to make the following comments.
I welcome your recognition of the scale of the problem of illegal entry. It is because of the size of the problem and the fact that it is costing the tax payer many millions of pounds that we plan to introduce the new penalty. I would like to take this opportunity to explain how we see the penalty working.
Our priority has to be reducing the unacceptable number of clandestine entrants coming to the UK in lorries and other vehicles, and we strongly believe that the principal responsibility for this must lie with the drivers, owners or operators whose vehicles are being targeted by those who seek to evade the UK immigration control.
It is not the Government's intention gratuitously to penalise anyone, but we believe that hauliers must accept responsibility for their vehicles and the loads that they carry.
That said, I fully appreciate the need to safeguard the position of those hauliers who are vigilant and who do make every effort to ensure that their loads are secure against this sort of abuse. I am therefore considering whether the legislation could contain safeguards for the vigilant and responsible driver or operator, which would recognise the difficult circumstances in which drivers operate.
I am consulting with representative bodies including the Road Haulage Association and the Freight Transport Association.
Your article has also raised the question of international co-operation. I can assure you that the Government fully recognises the international dimension to this problem and we are pursuing the matter with other European Union member states as appropriate.
Mike O'Brien MP, Immigration Minister, The Home Office