HC Deb 16 February 1998 vol 306 cc477-8W
Mr. Cotter

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 22 January 1998,Official Report, columns 647–48, on tobacco smuggling, if he will list the factors which account for the increase in the amount of tobacco smuggled, seized by HM Customs and Excise year on year since 1993; and what plans he has to set targets in conjunction with his EU counterparts to reduce the amount of tobacco smuggled. [28528]

Dawn Primarolo

There are no doubt many factors but the two principal ones are the growth in tobacco smuggling itself and the increased effectiveness of Customs in tackling the smugglers. Also, since the introduction of the Single Market in 1993, the number of Excise Verification Officers has been increased from 220 to 330 in 1997.

An EU High Level Group was formed in March 1997 to analyse the nature and causes of tobacco and alcohol fraud, to identify solutions and to guide action at the relevant level within the appropriate Community framework. The Group is due to complete its work by the Spring.

Mr. Cotter

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 22 January 1998,Official Report, column 648, if he will publish the original timetable for the publication of the report on alcohol and tobacco smuggling, cross border shopping and fraud currently being prepared by HM Customs and Excise; and if he will make a statement. [28517]

Dawn Primarolo

I asked the review team to present its findings by 31 December 1997. I and my Ministerial colleagues are considering the findings of the review in the run up to the Spring Budget.

Mrs. Lait

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the value of confiscated smuggled or bootlegged(a) tobacco and its products and (b) alcohol in each year since 1991. [27935]

Dawn Primarolo

I regret that figures on the value of confiscated smuggled tobacco and alcohol products are not available. The revenue that would have been due on tobacco and alcohol products smuggled from other EU member states and detected by Customs in each financial year since the advent of the Single market has been as follows:

£ million
Year Tobacco Alcohol
1993–94 1.3 0.80
1994–95 4.0 2.75
1995–96 6.8 8.00
1996–97 17.6 11.80

I regret that no figures are available for the years prior to 1993–94.

Mrs. Lait

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what evidence Customs and Excise has obtained of tobacco and its products and alcohol originating in countries outside the EU being smuggled or bootlegged into the United Kingdom; if he will list the countries concerned; and what price differential there is between alcohol and tobacco and its products in those countries and the United Kingdom. [27929]

Dawn Primarolo

There is very little evidence of alcohol being smuggled into the United Kingdom from outside the EU. The main area of concern is cigarettes smuggled from the Canary Islands, Andorra, the Baltic States and from Cyprus transited through the Lebanon, Egypt, Libya and Malta.

Information is not readily available on the price differential between alcohol and tobacco and its products in these countries and the United Kingdom.