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Written question asked by Baroness Berger (Labour) on Tuesday, 15 July 2014, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 17 July 2014. It was answered by Priti Patel (Conservative) on Monday, 18 August 2014 on behalf of the Treasury.

Tobacco: Smuggling

Question

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the cost in salaries was for those officials in his Department employed in tackling tobacco smuggling (a) in total, (b) in detection, (c) in investigations and (d) on intelligence matters in each year since 2010-11.

Answer

It is not possible to provide the requested breakdown of the total HM Revenue and Customs spent on salaries for staff employed on tackling tobacco smuggling in the way requested. The total costs for each year are as follows:

Salary Cost

(millions)

2010-11

Salary cost

(millions)

2011-12

Salary cost

(millions)

2012-13

Salary cost

(millions)

2013-14

Total

£37.044

£36.882

£35.734

£37.731

HM Revenue and Customs does not operate any x-ray scanners. Border Force has responsibility for the operation of x-ray scanners as part of the joint strategy to tackle tobacco smuggling.

HM Revenue and Customs total expenditure on tobacco work since 2010-11 is detailed in the table below. This includes administration and policy, as well as enforcement.

HMRC Activity

2010-11

2011-12

2012-13

2013-14

Total expenditure on tobacco work (millions)

£65.750

£68.918

£67.641

£76.000

It is not possible to provide the staff information in the format requested. However, the total figures are set out below:

HMRC Activity

2010/11

Full Time Equivalent

2011/12

Full Time Equivalent

2012/13

Full Time Equivalent

2013/14

Full Time Equivalent

Total

758

777

777

832

For the year 2012/13, the UK cigarette illicit market was reported at 9%, which is half the level seen a decade ago. The illicit market share for hand-rolling tobacco is 36%, lower than in 2010/11 and significantly lower than the level seen in 2008/09, when it was 50 per cent.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
206015
Session
2014-15
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Pay Staff Tobacco Treasury Smuggling
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk