§ Mr. MealeTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the revenues from beer taxes not collected because of illegal importation and sale in the United Kingdom in each of the last three years. [7253]
§ Mr. Oppenheim[holding answer 3 December 19961Customs' current estimate of revenue evaded by smuggling of beer is £110 million per year. This figure does not include any amount for commercial fraud. The actual loss to the Exchequer will be less than this figure because some smuggling represents additional consumption rather than substitution for similar goods bought in the UK. Customs has no official estimate of the extent of additional consumption of smuggled beer. There was no previous official estimate of revenue evaded by smuggling.