§ Mr. Matthew BanksTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will announce the results of the review by HM Customs and Excise of its next steps arrangements. [41232]
§ Mr. OppenheimCustoms and Excise has been operating along next steps lines since 1991 when the bulk of the Department's operational staff were organised into executive units.
The Department currently has 24 executive units; 14 collections, national investigation service, national intelligence division, solicitor's office and seven other central operations or service units which together employ some 95 per cent. of their staff.
The Department and each executive unit has a framework document which contains statements of responsibilities and accountabilities. The review of its organisation and the impact of next steps clearly demonstrates that Customs and Excise continues to be fully committed to next steps principles. The outcome of the review is the publication today of the revised departmental document "HM Customs and Excise: Next Steps Framework Document 1996", copies of which have been placed in the Libraries of the House.
Executive unit framework documents will be published before the House rises for the Christmas recess.