§ Mr. PollardTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer who is responsible for preventing the smuggling of petroleum products into Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement. [86715]
§ Ms HewittHM Customs and Excise are responsible for preventing the smuggling of petroleum products into Northern Ireland.
Both the Government and Customs are aware of this problem and recognise that it is serious in revenue terms and, just as importantly, disadvantages legitimate traders. Customs are deploying resources and actively mounting investigations against those involved to counter the threat posed to the revenue and to the Northern Ireland business community.