Customs and Excise

HC Deb 21 February 1996 vol 272 c141W

Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to review Customs and Excise prosecution policy. [15987]

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

[holding answer 19 February 1996]: In the light of lessons learnt from the super-gun, Matrix Churchill and other cases, Customs and Excise has already made improvements in the way in which it handles major prosecutions. Sir Richard Scott makes several further recommendations for improvement; these will be carefully considered as a part of the Government's response to the report.