HC Deb 12 April 1988 vol 131 cc63-4W
Mr. Michael Brown

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the salary of the Queen's warehousekeeper; and how many staff are employed at his office.

Mr. Lilley

One or more Queen's warehouses is located in each of the 21 regional collections of Customs and Excise according to the nature and volume of local passenger and freight traffic. Day-to-day responsibility is normally laid to staff at executive or higher executive officer level, who currently receive a maximum salary of £10,292 or £12,878 a year respectively outside London. They may be supported by up to three other staff according to the needs of the work.

Mr. Michael Brown

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many goods, and to what approximate value, presently remain unclaimed at the office of the Queen's warehousekeeper; and what happens to these goods after six months.

Mr. Lilley

Records are not kept centrally of goods seized and detained that remain unclaimed at individual Queen's warehouses. Where goods are detained pending the production of an import licence they are liable to be seized and disposed of if a licence is not produced within a reasonable time. Since the circumstances of particular importations can vary significantly, no single period is set for disposal.