Customs and Excise

HC Deb 05 March 1992 vol 205 cc239-40W

Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what growth in the number of passengers and in the number of vehicles, vessels and aircraft the board of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise estimates from(a) other European Community countries and (b) countries outside the European Community in the period up to 1993–94.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

The board of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise does not produce authoritative statistics for passenger and transport movements. For its own planning purposes the Department estimates that the number of passengers from both European Community countries and from countries outside the European Community will increase by about 1.5 per cent. in 1992–93 and 4.1 per cent. in 1993–94.

The number of transport units, including containers, is expected to increase by 1.6 per cent. in 1992–93 and 6.5 per cent. in 1993–94. The percentage increases are estimated to be broadly similar for EC and non-EC movements in each category.