§ Mr. John SmithTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many defendants in cases brought by HM Customs and Excise have had to pay the costs of the criminal receivership of their assets when they have been acquitted where the case against them was withdrawn in(a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003. [168079]
§ John HealeyHM Customs and Excise do not collect the information requested centrally. However, court appointed receivers in Customs cases have identified the following 14 cases where defendants have borne the fees of a receiver in circumstances in which they were acquitted or were not convicted for any reason:
Number Defendants (a) 2001 2 (b) 2002 9 (c) 2003 3 In two of the above cases liability for the receivers' fees is disputed.