Revenue and Customs: Manpower

Mr. Hoban
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many HM Revenue and Customs staff were based at each (a) port of entry and (b) airport as at 31 December 2007.

Mr. Byrne
[holding answer 10 September 2008]: As at 31 December 2007, HM Revenue and Customs had approximately 4,500 frontline operational staff deployed at entry points across the UK. Officers are deployed to tackle smuggling at the frontier on an intelligence-led basis where risk is greatest.

HM Revenue and Customs does not disclose the numbers of staff deployed to specific locations, as to do so could provide information of value to those seeking to circumvent HM Revenue and Customs controls, thereby prejudicing the prevention and detection of crime.