41. Mr. Ted Fletcherasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations have been made to him by the North-East Development Council about the siting of the value-added tax office at Southend; and what reply he has sent.
§ Mr. HigginsThe Council has asked that this office should be in the North-East. I have explained in reply that there were strong operational reasons for locating it in Southend, alongside existing dispersed staff of the Customs and Excise Department.