§ Harry CohenTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to obtain a more accurate account of the revenue losses outlined in the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General published on 9 February. [2995]
§ Dawn PrimaroloHM Customs and Excise Trust Statement for 1999–2000, which has been certified by the Comptroller and Auditor General, provided details of the estimated revenue losses due to excise diversion fraud of £668 million with further losses of £216 million involving goods diverted onto overseas markets where duty would have been due. Notes 9 and 10 to the Trust Statement, which is published with Customs Annual Report 1999–2000 (CM 5064), give further details.
In his report, the Comptroller and Auditor General also undertook to produce a further report to Parliament on diversion frauds and on the action planned by Customs. He will be reporting to the Public Accounts Committee. The report of the independent investigation conducted by John Rogues, commissioned by the Paymaster General and the Chairman of Customs, will be published at the same time as the Comptroller and Auditor General's report is made available to the House.