To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures to strengthen customs co-operation will be agreed to take account of the Treaty of Amsterdam. [17075]

[holding answer 24 November 1997]: Article 116 of the Amsterdam Treaty is designed to provide a clear and specific legal basis for strengthened customs co-operation between member states on matters which already fall within Community competence, for example, in relation to administrative co-operation on customs duty issues. A variety of measures in this area have already been agreed under Article 100a of the Treaty of Rome. The new Article makes it clear that customs co-operation in relation to criminal matters, such as drug smuggling, remains a matter for the inter-governmental third pillar.