Home Office issue £733,000 in fines for businesses employing illegals Scots businesses have been fined more than £730,000 for employing illegal immigrant workers in just one year, figures have revealed. In the financial year 2012/13 at total of 94 businesses across the country were handed civil penalties totalling £733,750 by the Home Office. The fines were issued to businesses including grocery shops, takeaway outlets and car washes across Scotland. The Home Office have also revealed plans to come down even harder by doubling the fines they can issue to businesses responsible. A Home Office spokeswoman said: "The government is determined to take effective action to reduce illegal migration, and to tackle illegal working. Giving employers hefty fines if they employ illegal immigrants is a key part of this. As part of our upcoming Immigration Bill, we will take even tougher action against businesses which use illegal labour and will double the fines levied against rogue employers. The Bill will also strengthen our ability to enforce unpaid fines. The largest fines handed out were £25,000 to The Spice Mill curry shop in Aberdeen in 2012 and £20,000 to Dunbar Indian Tandoori, in East Lothian. Other business given fines include Supercook in Glasgow's east end, who were given a £17,500 penalty, and Zip Car Wash in the city's Possil area who received a £15,000 fine. The current measures in place to tackle illegal working were introduced by the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 in February 2008. The Act brought in a system of civil penalties designed to encourage employers to comply with their legal obligations, without criminalising those who are less than diligent in operating their recruitment and employment practices. Under the legislation, employers can face liability for a civil penalty of up to £10,000 for every illegal worker found. Scottish Conservative MSP Alex Johnstone said: "Illegal immigration is a major cause of concern right across Scotland. I appreciate that in some sectors, particularly the catering industry, there is a need for workers with a special set of skills. However, it is perfectly possible for these workers to carry out those jobs legally, in a fashion that sees them contribute to the tax base of this country and improve their own living standards as a result. This is also unfair on the majority of businesses who go to great lengths to ensure their staff have all the legal rights to be employed in this country. Adam Scarcliffe, of the Home Office's Scotland Immigration Enforcement Team, added: "The message for anyone working in Scotland illegally is clear - we will track you down and remove you from the country. We're happy to work with businesses to let them know what checks need to be made on staff, but those who break the law should know that they will face heavy fines.