§ Mr. Ovendenasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what effect the closure of the Sheerness Customs launch station will have on the effectiveness of Customs surveillance in the Thames and Medway estuaries;
(2) what value he attaches to the deterrent value of Customs and Excise surveillance; and if he will reconsider the decision to close the Sheerness launch station in the light of such considerations.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonI recognise that surveillance by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise is an essential aspect of effective and economic revenue control. I am satisfied that the closure of the Sheerness launch station will not reduce the effectiveness of the Customs capacity to meet whatever smuggling risks may arise in the Thames and Medway estuaries.
§ Mr. Ovendenasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases of smuggling 404W and illegal importation have been detected by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise in the Thames and Medway areas in the past year; and how many of these have been the result of work by the Sheerness launch station.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonDuring 1977 1,616 cases of attempted smuggling were detected in the Thames and Medway areas. The Sheerness launch station assisted in bringing one of these cases to a conclusion.
§ Mr. Ovendenasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what will be the number of Customs launches operative in the Thames and Medway rivers and the approaches after the closure of the Sheerness station.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonAfter the closure of the Sheerness boarding station there will be a maximum of four vessels in operational use in the rivers Thames and Medway and their approaches.