HC Deb 13 December 1994 vol 251 cc592-3W
Mr. Ainger

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the planned reduction in the number of Her Majesty's Customs officers based at each of the Welsh ports and airports.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

[holding answer 8 December 1994]: The reduction in the number of Her Majesty's Customs officers based at each of the Welsh ports and airports has not yet been decided.

Changes at particular ports and airports will be determined by the head of the executive unit in Wales. Factors to be taken into account will be the assessment of risk in locations together with his ability to make maximum use of flexible anti-smuggling teams.

Mr. Steen

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many litres of alcohol Customs and Excise officers have intercepted; and what value of drugs and alcohol have been seized by Customs and Excise officers in Devon and Cornwall in each of the last three years.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

The following amounts have been seized by Customs and Excise officers in Devon and Cornwall over the last three years:

Year Litres of alcohol Value of drugs £ Value of alcohol £
1992 54 10,772,849 685
1993 16,658 14,487,868 24,855
1994 (up to 30 November) 7,059 28,199,289 17,836