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Smuggling: Tobacco

Volume 505: debated on Tuesday 2 February 2010

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate (a) the number and monetary value of cigarettes and (b) quantity of hand-rolled tobacco HM Revenue and Customs seized in each region in (i) 2006-07, (ii) 2007-08 and (iii) 2008-09. (313900)

Location-specific statistics are not published as this would provide information of value to those seeking to circumvent controls, thereby prejudicing the prevention and detection of crime. However, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and UK Border Agency seizure statistics are available for England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.

The following tables provide:

the quantities seized;

the monetary value of the seizures; and

the revenue value of the seizures.

1. HMRC cigarette seizures, 2006-07 to 2008-09

Country

Data

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

England

Quantity (million)

1,305

1,062

924

Goods value (£ million)

43

34

30

Tax value (£ million)

237

200

172

Northern Ireland

Quantity (million)

7

5

22

Goods value (£ million)

0

0

1

Tax value (£ million)

1

1

4

Scotland

Quantity (million)

13

12

6

Goods value (£ million)

0

0

0

Tax value (£ million)

2

2

1

Wales

Quantity (million)

3

3

29

Goods value (£ million)

0

0

1

Tax value (£ million)

1

0

5

Total

Quantity (million)

1,328

1,082

981

Goods value (£ million)

44

35

32

Tax value (£ million)

241

204

183

2. HMRC hand-rolling tobacco seizures, 2006-07 to 2008-09

Country

Data

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

England

Quantity (tonnes)

222

190

250

Goods value (£ million)

20

17

24

Tax value (£ million)

29

29

41

Northern Ireland

Quantity (tonnes)

1

1

1

Goods value (£ million)

0.06

0.05

0.10

Tax value (£ million)

0.08

0.07

0.16

Scotland

Quantity (tonnes)

3

3

5

Goods value (£ million)

0.28

0.26

0.51

Tax value (£ million)

0.40

0.35

0.73

Wales

Quantity (tonnes)

1

1

1

Goods value (£ million)

0.09

0.09

0.12

Tax value (£ million)

0.12

0.12

0.17

Total

Quantity (tonnes)

227

194

258

Goods value (£ million)

21

18

24

Tax value (£ million

29

30

42

All of these statistics should also be considered in the context of the overall UK illicit market share for cigarettes, which has been cut from over 20 per cent. in the early part of this decade, to 10 per cent. according to the latest published estimates for 2007-08.