HC Deb 04 April 2000 vol 347 c462W
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what(a) remuneration, (b) fee and (c) expenses were paid out of public funds to Mr. Martin Taylor for his report on the Government's strategy to combat tobacco smuggling. [117649]

Dawn Primarolo

Martin Taylor received no remuneration or fees for his work. No out-of-pocket expenses were paid directly to Martin Taylor. The cost of train tickets for travel to and from meetings outside London were met by Customs and Excise.

Mrs. Lait

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if Martin Taylor received remuneration, a fee or out-of-pocket expenses paid out of public funds for his report on the Government's strategy to combat tobacco smuggling; and who owns the copyright of his report. [117504]

Dawn Primarolo

Martin Taylor received no remuneration or fees for his work. No out-of-pocket expenses were paid directly to Martin Taylor. The cost of train tickets for travel to and from meetings outside London were met by Customs and Excise.

As Martin Taylor provided personal advice to the Chancellor there is no question of copyright.

Mrs. Lait

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the report by Martin Taylor on the Government's strategy to combat tobacco smuggling concluded about(a) the significance of the difference in the levels of tobacco taxation between the United Kingdom and other nations and (b) the likelihood, without a closer alignment of national tobacco tax levels, of other measures to combat smuggling having a substantial effect. [117505]

Dawn Primarolo

Martin Taylor's advice to the Chancellor was personal and confidential. It would therefore not be appropriate to disclose his advice.

The Government paper "Tackling Tobacco Smuggling" dated March 2000, sets out details of recommendations made by Martin Taylor on how to tackle tobacco smuggling. A copy of the paper has been placed in the Library. In this paper it was noted that a very substantial proportion of cigarettes smuggled into the UK come from places outside the EU where duty is negligible. Bringing cigarette duty rates closer to those of other EU member states would be unlikely to deter this smuggling.