§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the liability to customs checks is of(a) mail sent by national postal administrations to the United Kingdom and (b) mail carried by express couriers to the United Kingdom. [43800]
§ Dawn PrimaroloThe liability to customs checks for anti-smuggling purposes is the same for mail sent by a National Postal Administration and that carried by express couriers. Provision for such checks is contained in the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979. Checks on both types of traffic are also undertaken for fiscal and regulatory purposes under the Community Customs Code, which is European legislation. However, some differences apply to the treatment of postal packets, which is subject to national provisions under the Post Office Act 1953 and the Postal Packets (C&E) (Amendment) Regulation 1992.