§ Mr. ByersTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to take further action against those involved in the illegal importation of cigarettes and tobacco; and if he will make a statement. [9655]
§ Mr. Oppenheim[holding answer 17 December 19961: As my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced as part of his Budget package, Customs and Excise is to deploy 70 additional front-line staff to combat single market smuggling of alcohol and tobacco. There will be increases in intelligence and investigation staff to deal with excise fraud and evasion.
Registrations and deregistrations by calendar year Collection 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 Registrations Northern Ireland 4,226 3,607 3,674 4,034 3,652 3,735 Central England 22,257 18,239 18,983 17,735 16,161 16,216 Anglia 17,436 15,347 14,087 14,350 13,083 10,744 South-east England 16,122 13,562 12,403 12,689 11,522 7,019 South England 18,813 15,544 13,934 14,295 13,056 13,348 Thames Valley 25,524 21,723 20,478 20,956 19,999 19,362 London Central 15,840 13,907 14,194 13,705 12,468 15,529 London South and Thames 9,303 8,018 7,519 11,176 10,171 12,307 East England 22,923 19,599 17,559 18,280 16,665 16,380 North-west England 20,574 18,645 17,326 16,412 15,174 15,174 North England 19,180 16,362 15,374 15,331 14,081 13,522 Scotland 15,350 13,395 12,792 12,966 11,985 12,204 Wales West and Borders 25,381 21,578 20,066 20,030 18,621 15,931 Deregistrations Northern Ireland 3,113 3,783 3,595 3,176 3,495 3,099 Central England 16,799 22,540 22,082 20,822 17,979 17,506 Anglia 13,851 21,972 19,977 17,511 16.303 11,034 South-east England 11,648 19,650 18,342 15,906 14,317 7,885 South England 14,782 21,828 20,813 19,457 16,422 14,810 Thames Valley 17,943 24,925 25,509 23,518 21,162 19,048 London Central 12,666 15,779 17,109 14,818 11,905 12,991 London South and Thames 7,531 9,247 8,989 10,546 9,604 12,187 East England 18,483 24,212 22,424 21,145 18,729 17,727 North-west England 16,015 21,486 21420 20,752 18,600 17,065 North England 16,154 20,649 18,904 17,427 16,955 17,261 Scotland 12,619 15,399 13,790 14,206 12,877 12,666 Wales West and Borders 20,773 27,797 25,691 25,236 23,346 17,616