Millions of pounds of fines given to firms who hire illegal immigrants has gone unpaid, Home Office admits
Ministers were slammed for “failing” taxpayers after the astonishing figures were released
TWO-THIRDS of the £180 million-worth of fines slapped on firms for hiring illegal immigrants since 2010 has gone unpaid, it has emerged.
Ministers were slammed for “failing” taxpayers after the astonishing figures were released by the Home Office.
Immigration Minister Robert Goodwill said while the Government had fined 15,000 of firms a total of £179 million since 2009-2010 just £57.4 million had been collected.
The Home Office insisted that some companies are awarded discounts for settling cases early and some were allowed to spread payments over a three-year period – meaning the money had not yet shown up in the figures.
But Lib Dem leader Tim Farron said the blame for such a low rate of return lay “firmly at the door” of the Government.
He stormed: “This is the irresponsible face of capitalism and businesses who do things like this give every other business a bad name.
“But the Government should not be failing like this. They are at fault.
“They are not doing their job and collecting the penalties that we are all owed.
He added: “Obviously fines change on appeal but the agencies are not up to the task and it’s the Ministers fault. The blame lies firmly at their door, they need to get a grip.”
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The Government figures revealed 15,115 firms had been penalised for employing illegal immigrants. A record 2,594 were fined in 2015-2016. Home Office officials said the spike followed a renewed focus on combating illegal immigrants working in the UK.
Ministers have introduced measures such as working with insolvency practitioners to ban directors who employ undocumented migrants.
A Home Office spokeswoman said: “Illegal working cheats the taxpayer, undercuts honest employers and denies legitimate jobseekers employment opportunities.”
She insisted: “We robustly pursue debts owed by employers of illegal immigrants, and last year collected more than £12 million.
“At the same time under the Immigration Act 2016 we now have the power to close businesses with a history of non-compliance and subject them to court-ordered supervision.”
The Sun two weeks ago revealed Boris Johnson wanted a ‘Brexit’ amnesty for illegal immigrants who have managed to escape detection for ten years.
The Foreign Secretary said the move would help generate funds for the Treasury as tax income would go up.