Written question asked by Lord Grayling (Conservative) on Thursday, 27 February 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 7 March 2003. It was answered by John Healey (Labour) on Friday, 7 March 2003 on behalf of the Treasury.

Treasury

Question: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many Customs and Excise officers are dedicated to tackling cigarette smuggling; and how many are based at each port of entry. - Includes ref to 10 April 2002 at 383 c246-7W.

Answer: Mr. Grayling: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Customs and Excise officers are dedicated to tackling cigarette smuggling; and how many are based at each port of entry. [100825] Mr. Healey: For the number of law enforcement staff within Customs and Excise I refer the hon. Member to the answer the then Financial Secretary to the Treasury gave to the hon. Member for Edinburgh North and Leith on 10 April 2002, Official Report, column 246W-247W. Customs' law enforcement staff are deployed on the basis of risk assessment and intelligence, and regularly move between ports of entry and inland locations. No details can be given of the number of officers deployed in individual locations at particular times; Exemption 4 (Law enforcement and legal proceedings) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information applies.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 100825; 400 c1254-5W;400 c1242-3W
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Customs and Excise Customs officers Location Staff Tobacco Smuggling
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk