§ Mr. Edward DaveyTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Government have spent implementing the recommendations of the Alcohol and Tobacco Fraud Review since its publication in January 1998; and what stage the consultation exercise which Her Majesty's Customs and Excise is currently undertaking with the trade has reached. [83147]
405W
§ Dawn Primarolo[holding answer 4 May 1999]The Alcohol and Tobacco Fraud Review (ATFR) was published in July 1998 as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review. The Government have allocated £35 million to Customs and Excise over three financial years from 1999–2000 to implement the ATFR recommendations, of which £15 million is for 1999–2000. In addition, the Government approved a claim on the Reserve for Customs during 1998–99 for £9 million which has enabled Customs to make an early start on implementing the ATFR.
The consultation exercise with the trade which seeks to establish the cost to industry of implementing those recommendations which involve procedural changes to tighten up on fraud is at an advanced stage. Subject to the outcome of that consultation, a final decision will be taken on how and when such measures are to be implemented during 1999.