§ Mr. McFallTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes are being considered in the deployment of officers involved in anti-smuggling activities as a result of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise fundamental expenditure review.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryChanges resulting from the Customs fundamental expenditure review are consistent with the department's existing anti-smuggling strategy and will enable Customs to play a key role in the Government's anti-drugs strategy. Customs effectiveness will not be diminished.
FER changes mean that Customs will allocate its anti-smuggling resources more effectively. There will be a focusing of static staff on areas of greatest risk. For other locations, anti-smuggling effort will be grouped together in task forces which will ensure a fast and flexible response to specific threats as well as providing high-profile deterrence. There will be a greater emphasis placed on quality results in terms of seizures and the impact that the department has on organised criminals. There will be a strengthening of the department's intelligence organisation, raising its profile and improving national co-ordination—indeed, some of the reductions in posts which result from the deployment of task forces in certain locations will be recycled into this areas.
It is too early to indicate what the implications will be at particular locations. Decisions about the deployment of Customs staff will be taken by operational managers in consultation with the centre.