§ Lord Morris of Manchesterasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many cross-Channel shoppers have had their cars seized by Customs officials on their return to United Kingdom ports in each of the last three years; how many of these vehicles were subsequently sold by Customs and Excise; how many were destroyed by the department's car-crushing machine in Dover; how many were the vehicles of disabled people; and what income the Treasury has derived from the sales of seized vehicles. [HL5502]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyCustoms action at the Channel ports, including vehicle seizure, is solely focused on tackling smugglers, not honest cross-Channel shoppers.
162WAThe total number of vehicles seized for all Customs offences across the whole of the UK was 3,193 in the financial year 1997–98, 5,200 in 1999–2000 and 10,219 for the year 2000–01. Figures for 2001–02 will be published later this year together with the general assessment of progress against the tackling tobacco smuggling strategy.
Customs does not hold information centrally on the number of vehicles sold or destroyed or the income derived from the sale of seized vehicles.
Customs does not collate statistics on the number of vehicles seized from particular categories of driver.