§ Viscount Cranborneasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many persons on the staff of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise in Weymouth port have particular responsibility for matters that might endanger public health, such as the smuggling of live animals from abroad; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HayhoeNone. The total number of officers employed on customs work in Weymouth port is 35.5 including eight Customs/VAT staff employed seasonally. Their duties embrace all customs duties, including the enforcement of a number of import restrictions and prohibitions of which the prevention of smuggling of live animals from abroad is one. It is impossible to attribute specific numbers of staff to enforcement of these restrictions and prohibitions.
§ Viscount Cranborneasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has recently received from the Weymouth port health authority concerning the manning of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise service in Weymouth.
§ Mr. HayhoeNone, although the Weymouth port health authority wrote in January 1980 and April 1984 to the local management of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise. On both occasions reassurance was given that the possibility of animals being illegally imported was a factor taken into account in fixing staffing levels and controls at Weymouth.
§ Viscount Cranborneasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will outline the staffing levels of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise in Weymouth port in each of the last five years.
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§ Mr. HayhoeThe staffing levels on 31 March for the last five years were:
Year Staff Including Customs/VAT staff 1980 47 12 1981 47 12 1982 47 7 1983 35.5 8 1984 35.5 8 Because there are seasonal fluctuations in work, a number of the staff as shown work on customs duties in the summer and VAT in the winter.
Excise duty (ECUs) Specific Ad valorem* VAT* Total tax yield Belgium 1.88 32.69 3.01 37.58 Denmark 66.68 30.16 25.13 121.97 France 1.16 14.12 7.95 23.23 Germany 25.35 26.00 10.05 61.40 Greece 0.71 11.06 1.0 12.77 Italy 0.37 25.60 7.79 33.76 Ireland 40.77 15.11 18.35 74.23 Luxembourg 1.44 24.51 2.56 28.51 Netherlands 11.88 27.19 11.44 50.51 United Kingdom 41.6 21.69 13.47 76.76 Source: EC Commission
* Calculated on the selling price of cigarettes in the most popular price category for each country.
§ Mr. Proctorasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total tax yield, to the Exchequer including value added tax, on the taxation of tobacco products in each financial year since1979–80 in real terms; what is his estimate for 1984; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HayhoeIt is estimated that the yield from excise duties and value added tax on tobacco products, at 1983–84 prices, was as follows:
£ million 1979–80 4,400 1980–81 4,300 1981–82 4,650 1982–83 4,400 1983–84 4,600 The estimate for excise duty on tobacco products for the year 1984–85 is £4,100 million. An estimate for value added tax is not available.