Customs and Excise (Hansard, 7 November 1988)

§ Mr. Patrick Thompson
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidelines are set to give consideration to the daily business operations of port operators and to the fast and efficient movement of traffic through ports when freight and passengers are being cleared by the Customs service.

§ Mr. Lilley
[holding answer 3 November 1988]: Customs facilities are provided at ports in response to reasonable trade needs and subject to requirements such as the provision of security, office accommodation and adequate facilities for examining cargo. The policy is to approve an appropriate number of locations to balance the need for speedy clearance with the requirement for effective and economic revenue control.

§ Mr. Patrick Thompson
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the number, type and cost of customs facilities required by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise which port authorities were requested to provide in 1986 and 1987.
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§ Mr. Lilley
[holding answer 3 November 1988]: I regret that statistics for the provision of Customs facilities are not kept centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

§ Mr. Patrick Thompson
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what criteria have been laid down to ensure that the provision of customs facilities at ports does not become a financial burden to ports and that these facilities are utilised by Customs and Excise in a way and for a length of time which reflects the value of the investment made.

§ Mr. Lilley
[holding answer 3 November 1988]: When considering approval of a port, Customs require the operator to provide basic accommodation and cargo examination facilities. At wharves attended only in-frequently, the operator must also pay Customs' charges for attendance. The financial implications involved are matters for commercial judgment by the port authorities at the time facilities are sought. Approval of facilities is normally for a period of three years and is renewable.

§ Mr. Patrick Thompson
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the £5 million saved from the Customs and Excise budget by the utilisation of direct trade input systems by certain ports and airports will be used to increase Her Majesty's Customs and Excise resources at ports to increase effectiveness of controls and trade facilitation at those ports.

§ Mr. Lilley
[holding answer 3 November 1988]: Resource savings flowing from the introduction of direct trader input systems are being used to improve the effectiveness of existing controls and to accommodate increases in the volume of international traffic and thereby facilitate trade.