§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the review of the investigative functions and resources 571W of Customs and Excise has been completed; and what conclusions have been reached. [15183]
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryThe final report of the fundamental expenditure review of Customs and Excise investigation and intelligence activity was completed in October 1995 and approved by Ministers in November 1995.
The main conclusions of the review were that organisational changes are required to help Customs and Excise tackle more effectively the growing sophistication of commercial drug smuggling and tax fraud. From the 1 April 1996 there will be a single Customs national investigation service, combining regional investigation units and the central division; and a unified national intelligence network, based on an expanded national intelligence division.
Although, in common with most other Government Departments, Customs overall resources are set to fall, the creation of the new organisation will mean the deployment of over 200 additional staff in the key areas of intelligence and investigation.