This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/8268101.stm

The article has changed 36 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Lady Scotland risks migrant fine Lady Scotland risks migrant fine
(40 minutes later)
The attorney general is in "technical breach" of rules on employing migrant workers, the BBC understands.The attorney general is in "technical breach" of rules on employing migrant workers, the BBC understands.
Baroness Scotland is expected to be fined after employing a housekeeper from Tonga who did not have the right to work in the UK. Baroness Scotland is expected to be fined for employing a housekeeper from Tonga who did not have the right to work in the UK.
But she has not been asked to resign, according to government sources.But she has not been asked to resign, according to government sources.
The minister has said she employed Loloahi Tapui in good faith and thought she was working legally following the investigation by the UK Border Agency. The minister says she thought she was working legally and acted in good faith but both the Tories and Lib Dems have raised questions about her position.
Visa expiredVisa expired
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said Lady Scotland wishes to apologise for "any inadvertent mistake".Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said Lady Scotland wishes to apologise for "any inadvertent mistake".
She had contacted the authorities herself to ask them to conduct a "thorough" investigation in order to assure the country and herself she had taken "the necessary steps" when hiring Ms Tapui, he said. He said she had contacted the authorities herself to ask them to conduct a "thorough" investigation in order to assure the country and herself she had taken "the necessary steps" when hiring Loloahi Tapui.
Laws state that employers must check to verify their staff's right to work in the UK.Laws state that employers must check to verify their staff's right to work in the UK.
Those who knowingly take on illegal workers face a two-year prison sentence and unlimited fine, while those who do it unknowingly face a £10,000 fine. I think this is such an embarrassing case I think she does have to consider her position Chris HuhneLiberal Democrats
Those who knowingly take on illegal workers face a two-year prison sentence and unlimited fine, while those who do it unknowingly face a fine of up to £10,000.
Somebody who made partial checks but was still in breach could face a fine of up to £2,500.
BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said Ms Tapui had overstayed on her visa for five years and the key question was whether Lady Scotland had carried out enough checks.BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said Ms Tapui had overstayed on her visa for five years and the key question was whether Lady Scotland had carried out enough checks.
He told the BBC's Today programme: "We know she saw some documents from the person she employed - who has now been sacked - including National Insurance numbers. It is understood she saw some of Ms Tapui's documents, including National Insurance numbers but it is not known if she saw a passport or a visa.
"We don't know if she saw a passport or a visa, so the question is whether she did enough checks, but it would appear that she didn't knowingly employ somebody illegally." Chris Huhne, home affairs spokesman for the Liberal Democrats, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Given the fact that Baroness Scotland is the chief law officer of the government, that law makers really cannot be law breakers, I think this is such an embarrassing case I think she does have to consider her position."
He added that somebody who made partial checks but was still in breach could face a fine of up to £2,500. Eric Pickles, the Conservative Party chairman, said she was in a "difficult position" because she had piloted the law in question through Parliament.
"I think her position, I think she's not likely to survive for much longer."