St. Helena (Hansard, 16 February 1989)

§ Dr. Marek
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the amount of the largest case of unpaid Customs duty that has come to his attention in the last six years on St. Helena.

§ Mr. Eggar
The largest case, amounting to £200.10, dated back to January 1983.

§ Dr. Marek
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on whether the senior customs officer and government secretary of St. Helena were at any time in default of paying Customs duties or wharfage charges.

§ Mr. Eggar
The senior customs officer was for a while in default in respect of customs duty and wharfage on a vehicle, confectionery, building materials, groceries and films. He paid in full by April 1987. The government secretary at the time was technically in default, but this apparently arose from incorrect advice given to him.

§ Dr. Marek
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much was lost in uncollected Customs duties and wharfage fees in St. Helena in the last six years.

§ Mr. Eggar
Arrears of Customs duties totalling £124,671 were identified in January 1987. All arrears were collected by April 1987 with no losses.

§ Dr. Marek
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement regarding the Westerdam based at St. Helena and any financial support given in the last 10 years.

§ Mr. Eggar
The MV Westerdam was purchased in 1981 by the St. Helena Fisheries Corporation as an offshore fishing vessel. The original purchase did not involve British Government funds but development aid funds totalling £140,000 were spent in 1985 to repair and refit her in preparation for an offshore fisheries survey, also financed from development aid funds. The vessel was sold at the end of 1988 and it is expected that the proceeds will be used by St. Helena Government on other fisheries-related projects.

§ Dr. Marek
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many cases of unpaid Customs duties on St. Helena have come to his attention in the last six years; how many were eventually paid in full; and what was the result of any prosecutions.

§ Mr. Eggar
Fourteen cases of unpaid Customs duties were identified. All have been paid in full. No prosecutions were made.