HC Deb 16 January 2002 vol 378 cc279-81
2. Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme)

When the organised crime taskforce last met; and what was discussed. [25592]

The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office (Jane Kennedy)

The organised crime taskforce, which I chair, last met on 12 December to discuss how to build on the successes already achieved. Since then, on 10 January, a joint Customs and police operation seized a fuel-laundering plant in South Armagh that was capable of stealing £75,000 per week in unpaid taxes.

Paul Farrelly

I congratulate my hon. Friend on the work being done by the taskforce. It is well known that organised crime raises money for terrorism. To what extent are the taskforce's successes stopping money going into the coffers of paramilitary groups, and to what extent is the taskforce contributing to the seizure of arms from paramilitary groups, especially those that are not signed up to the peace process?

Jane Kennedy

At the heart of the Government's approach to tackling organised crime are efforts focused on—[Interruption.]

Mr. Speaker

Order. Will the House allow the Minister to be heard? There is a great deal of noise.

Jane Kennedy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

At the heart of the Government's approach and the task force's efforts is our recognition of the impact of organised crime on Northern Ireland's society. Organised crime undermines civic values the world over; the problem is compounded in Northern Ireland, where, unfortunately, paramilitaries have the apparatus and the will to commit crime for profit.

Money laundering is only one of many aspects of the development of organised crime of which we are aware, and the taskforce is assisting the organisations that comprises—public agencies that have come together to tackle organised crime—by utilising the best minds and the best trained financial investigators available. We are aware of the need to crack down on groups involved in organised crime; the debate on the previous question leaves no doubt that it is a factor that must be borne in mind. When faced with the sort of violence that we have witnessed in the past week, we must bear in mind the fact that the paramilitary organisations engaged in that violence are equally capable of turning their hand to organised crime. The role of the taskforce is therefore essential.

David Burnside (South Antrim)

The Minister will share the revulsion felt by the vast majority of Northern Ireland's people against criminals masquerading as paramilitaries who are involved in drug dealing and driving drugs into our society, especially when their activities are directed towards young people and schoolchildren. She will also be aware of my strongly held belief that the only way to tackle drug dealers and put them out of business is to pass a law that allows phone tap evidence to be admissible in court. Will she put that item on the agenda of the taskforce's next meeting and draw evidence from the success in Italy, where, by using such a law, the Government have had great success against the Mafia and organised crime?

Jane Kennedy

The hon. Gentleman has, rightly, raised that point before. We keep under constant review all the tools that may become available to the Government, with the assistance of the police and security forces our main focus. We have to continue the fight against organised crime and constantly bear in mind the link between organisations engaged in organised crime and paramilitary associations in Northern Ireland.

Mr. Harry Barnes (North-East Derbyshire)

The taskforce has said that, along with money laundering and fraud, fuel smuggling is one of the most serious crimes committed in Northern Ireland, given its social impact. Does the Northern Ireland Office hold discussions with the Treasury to let it know that the land border between Northern Ireland and the Republic has a devastating effect because differential duty rates are applied? One of the easiest ways to handle the problem would be tax harmonisation between the two parts of the island of Ireland, which would remove the opportunity for smugglers to be involved in this trade.

Jane Kennedy

My hon. Friend makes a strong point. We have considered this issue, and discussions have taken place on all the factors that affect organised crime in Northern Ireland. Fuel tax evasion is a crime in itself, irrespective of the tax regime, and should be vigorously opposed. I support my hon. Friend in saying that it is important that the whole of Northern Ireland society unites behind the police service and other organisations, including the Inland Revenue, to assist them in their efforts to bring to justice those involved in organised criminality, which includes those crimes that are difficult to tackle. The police can have an effect, and successes will continue so long as society unites to assist them in their efforts.

Mr. Crispin Blunt (Reigate)

I agree with the Minister about the scale of the threat posed by organised crime. Would it not be better for the Government to redirect the tens or hundreds of millions of pounds from the scandalous gravy train that the Saville inquiry has become to the police, so that they can fight organised crime more effectively?

Jane Kennedy

The police in Northern Ireland, Customs and Excise officers, the Inland Revenue and the other organisations in the taskforce are doing a superb job in tackling organised crime. The Government are not complacent. We are conscious of the scale of the problem, but the police have the resources, expertise and skill, and they are having successes. On the latter part of the hon. Gentleman's question, I refer him to the answer that my right hon. Friend gave a few moments ago.