HC Deb 07 November 2001 vol 374 cc251-2W
Mr. Lidington

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases of strategic exports to(a) strategic and (b) other destinations were detected by HM Customs and Excise in (i) 1999–2000, (ii) 2000–01 and (iii) 2001–02 to date. [11163]

Mr. Boateng

[holding answer 5 November 2001]: The number of detections of strategic and proliferation goods to sensitive and other destinations during the financial years 1999–2000 and 2000–01 were as follows:

Number
To sensitive destinations
1999–2000 238
2000–01 188
To other destinations
1999–2000 245
2000–01 232

The figures for 2001–02 are not yet available.

Mr. Lidington

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were searched by HM Customs and Excise officers under section 164 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 in(a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01 and (c) 2001–02 to date. [11176]

Mr. Boateng

[holding answer 5 November 2001]: Figures for 2000–01 and 2001–02 are not yet available. In 1999–2000, HM Customs and Excise conducted 19,246 searches under section 164 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979.

Mr. Lidington

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases of exports involving breaches of UN sanctions were detected by Customs and Excise in(a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01 and (c) 2001–02 to date. [11164]

Mr. Boateng

[holding answer 5 November 2001]: The number of exports in breach of UN sanctions detected by HM Customs and Excise during the financial years 1999–2000 and 2000–01 were 27 and 38 respectively. Figures for 2001–02 are not yet available.

Mr. Lidington

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the value of revenue evasion(a) generally, (b) of customs duties and (c) of common agricultural policy export refunds, that were prevented by HM Customs and Excise in (i) 1999–2000, (ii) 2000–01 and (iii) 2001–02. [11124]

Mr. Boateng

The total VAT and excise revenue evasion prevented by Customs and Excise in 1999–2000 was published in the Customs and Excise annual report. For the year 2000–01, the figure will be published in the Customs and Excise annual report that will be published in due course.

HM Customs and Excise does not calculate the revenue evasion prevented for customs duties and common agricultural policy export refunds.

Mr. Lidington

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many(a) people were sentenced and (b) prison sentences were passed, broken down by month and what was the total of (i) court fines and costs and (ii) company settlements in respect of Customs and Excise non-fiscal prohibitions and restrictions in (1) 1999–2000, (2) 2000–01 and (3) 2001–02. [11131]

Mr. Boateng

This information can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.