§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Customs officers have been employed by the Government for each year since 1979.
§ Mr. Brooke[pursuant to his reply, 14 July 1986]: The number of Customs and Excise officers employed on customs duties at ports, airports and inland premises at I April for each year since 1979 is as follows:
Number 1979 7,591 1980 7,231 1981 7,088 1982 6,861 1983 6,717 1984 6,552 1985 6,715 The comparable figure for 1986 is estimated to be 6,900. The figure provided for on 1 April 1987 is 7,250.
The numbers of preventive officers included in the above table are as follows:
Number 1979 3,445 1980 3,214 1981 3,027 1982 2,890 1983 2,795 1984 2,721 1985 2,823 The comparable figure for 1986 is estimated to be 3,000. The figure provided for on 1 April 1987 is 3,300. In addition, there are currently 262 specialist drugs investigators.