§ Mr. HeathTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 14 November 2001,Official Report, column 766W, on impounded vehicles, what are the security reasons which prevent the geographical locations of such sites from being published; which officials are responsible for making this decision; and if he will make a statement. [18211]
§ Dawn PrimaroloThe geographical location of storage sites for seized goods, including vehicles, is not published in order to reduce the risk of criminal attempts of theft and damage. In the recent past a vehicle with satellite tracking was deliberately burned and attempts to remove vehicles or parts of vehicles by allegedly armed men have been reported.
The decision not to publish the details of storage sites has been taken by the contract managers in consultation with Customs security officers.
§ Mr. HeathTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 14 November 2001,Official Report, column 766W, on impounded vehicles, with which bodies Customs and Excise has made contract arrangements to supply storage facilities; when each contract arrangement was made; what the value is of each contract; and if he will make a statement. [18210]
§ Dawn PrimaroloThe contract for the haulage and storage of excise goods and vehicles used to smuggle was signed with P&O Trans European Ltd. in 1996 for three years and renewed for a further two years in 1999. It is not possible to identify the value of this contract in relation to vehicle storage alone.