§ Mr. Stephen O'BrienTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many(a) vehicles and (b) litres of fuel were seized by HM Customs for alleged smuggling of petroleum products in Northern Ireland in each year since 1997. [83005]
§ John HealeyI refer to the earlier answer given by the then Financial Secretary to the Treasury to the Member for Montgomeryshire on 2 May 2002 concerning the numbers of vehicles seized by Customs for alleged fuel smuggling offences in Northern Ireland.Official Report 7 May 2002 column 39W
Figures for the amount of fuel seized by Customs in Northern Ireland in the years 1998–99 to 2000–01 are contained in Tackling Indirect Tax Fraud, published at the time of the pre Budget Report in November 2001, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.
The Government will be publishing figures for fuel seizures in 2001–02 at the time of the forthcoming Pre-budget Report. Figures for vehicle seizures in Northern Ireland for oils fraud in 2001–02 will be published in Customs' Annual Report.
§ Mr. Stephen O'BrienTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he is taking to tackle cross- border smuggling of petroleum products into Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [83007]
62W
§ John HealeyI refer the hon. Gentleman to the document "Tackling Indirect Tax Fraud", published at the time of the 2001 pre-Budget report, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House, which explains the Government's action in Northern Ireland to tackle oils fraud. Updated information will be provided at the time of the 2002 pre-Budget report.
§ Mr. Stephen O'BrienTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent meetings have taken place between Ministers and officials and their Irish counterparts to discuss the smuggling of petroleum products into Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [83008]
§ John HealeyI refer to the answer given by the then Financial Secretary to the Treasury to the Member for Montgomeryshire (Lembit Opik) on 2 May 2002 concerning meetings between Ministers and their Irish counterparts to discuss the smuggling of petroleum products into Northern Ireland, 7 May 2002,Official Report column 39W.
Officials regularly hold meetings with their Irish counterparts to discuss the smuggling of petroleum products into Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. Stephen O'BrienTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the loss in revenue from petrol and diesel smuggling into Northern Ireland in each year since 1997. [83009]
§ John HealeyEstimates of the revenue loss arising specifically from smuggling are not available. Estimates of the revenue loss arising from all forms of oils fraud and legitimate cross-border shopping in Northern Ireland for the years 1999 and 2000 are contained in the document Measuring Indirect Tax Fraud,published by HM Customs and Excise in November 2001. An estimate for 1998 is contained in the NAO report The Misuse and Smuggling of Hydrocarbon Oils, published in February 2002. Copies of both of these documents are available in the Library of the House. Figures for 2001 will be published at the time of the pre Budget Report.