HC Deb 05 November 2001 vol 374 c75W
Mr. Lidington

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the value of cross-Channel smuggling in summer(a) 2001 and (b) 2000. [9173]

Mr. Boateng

For Customs' estimate of cross-Channel smuggling in 2000 I refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend the Paymaster General gave to the hon. Member for Preseli Pembrokeshire (Mrs. Lawrence) on 7 March 2001,Official Report, columns 229–30W. Results from the first year of the "Tackling Tobacco Smuggling" strategy, including Customs' estimate of cross-Channel smuggling in 2001, will be published at the time of the pre-Budget report.

Mr. Lidington

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the share of the tobacco market represented by illicit supplies in(a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02 to the most recent date for which information is available. [9174]

Mr. Boateng

Results from the first year of the "Tackling Tobacco Smuggling" strategy, including the level of the illicit market for 2000–01, will be published at the time of the pre-Budget report. Customs estimate of the size of the illicit market during 2001–02 will be published on a full financial year basis during 2002–03.