§ Mrs. LaitTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans there are for Her Majesty's Customs and Excise to purchase x-ray machines capable of screening articulated lorries and containers to assist in combating illegal immigration and alcohol and tobacco smuggling; and if he will make a statement. [92768]
§ Dawn PrimaroloThere are currently no plans for such purchases.
§ Mrs. LaitTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what funds have been allocated in(a) the present financial year and (b) in 2000–01 for Her Majesty's Customs and Excise to purchase x-ray machines capable of screening articulated lorries and containers to assist in combating alcohol and tobacco smuggling. [92769]
§ Dawn PrimaroloNo such funds have been allocated in the present financial year. Funding plans for 2000–01 have not yet been finalised.
§ Mrs. LaitTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the revenue value of detected alcohol and tobacco fraud and smuggling for each of the last three financial years from(a) sources within the EU, (b) sources outside the EU and (c) diversion fraud. [92765]
§ Dawn PrimaroloI regret that Customs do not hold records that differentiate between sources within and sources outside the EU.
The revenue value of smuggled tobacco and alcohol products detected by Customs for the last three financial years has been:
£ million 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 Smuggled 29 76 140 Diversion Fraud No comparable figures 207 245
§ Mrs. LaitTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the target levels for the present financial year for the detection of alcohol and tobacco fraud and smuggling; and what progress has been made in achieving these target levels in the first three months of the current financial year. [92766]
§ Dawn PrimaroloCustoms targets for the detection of alcohol and tobacco smuggling and fraud for the present financial year are:
to detect alcohol and tobacco fraud and smuggling to the revenue value of £307 million, andto disrupt or dismantle 25 major excise smuggling organisations.Data in respect of our performance against these targets during the first three months of the year (April-June) are still being collated and validated. However, the emerging results are encouraging and, if this pattern continues, Customs consider they are on course to achieve the targets by the end of 1999–2000.
116W
§ Mrs. LaitTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what(a) fines, (b) charges and (c) convictions have resulted each year since 1 January 1990 from the (i) detection of fraud and (ii) detection of misdeclaration of goods on (1) cigarettes, (2) hand rolling tobacco, (3) cigars, (4) spirits, (5) cider, (6) fortified wines, (7) wine and (8) beer entering the United Kingdom. [92764]
§ Dawn PrimaroloI regret that central records are not kept in this format.