§ Ms Atherton:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many customs officers there are stationed west of the line from Bristol to Southampton. [131172]
§ John Healey:I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock) on 8 September 2003, Official Report,column 99W.
This information is not available in the format requested. Figures for the number of Customs and Excise Officers by Government Office region are published on an annual basis in the Civil Service Statistics, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House, and from the Cabinet Office website.
The Customs figures are based on the number of officers whose office address falls within the defined area. However, Customs are a flexible resource and are frequently called upon to work across regions. In addition, regional staff are supplemented by the National Strike Force, a mobile brigade which is deployed on a national basis according to risk. Staff in these teams are allocated an office address for administrative purposes.