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Version 2 | Version 3 |
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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 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 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 expired | Visa 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". |
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. |
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. |
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. | |
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." | |
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." |