The Economy — 13 Dec 2000

Question again proposed, That the amendment be made.

estimate the loss of revenue through the smuggling of petroleum products into Northern Ireland in each year since 1997.

HM Customs and Excise assess the total revenue lost (excise duty and VAT) through cross-border shopping and smuggling of road fuels in Northern Ireland was about £100 million in 1998.--[ Official Report , 20 March 2000; Vol. 346, c. 442W.]

in each of the last five years up to the latest date for which information is available.

No such estimates are available.--[ Official Report , 29 November 2000; Vol. 357, c. 953W.]

on 7 October when I met the Petrol Retailers Association.

The Institute of Petroleum has confirmed that it cannot provide sales data nor can this be obtained from the major oil companies.

£100 million in the context of £21 billion overall from fuel duties as a whole is really a very, very small part of the overall picture.

I am also proposing new legislation to take tough action against fraudsters and powers to deal with new scams quickly.

We have made it clear all the way through that we are committed to a referendum and we are committed to it as part of our programme for the next Parliament.

We shall legislate at the earliest available opportunity.--[ Official Report , 27 June 2000; Vol. 352, c. 719.]

We will ensure that victims are kept fully informed of the progress of their case, and why charges may have to be downgraded or dropped.

victims should get full information about the progress of their case . . . another big project for the second term of a Labour government.

Sadly, there has been no continuation of the bonfire of the quangos and agencies.--[ Official Report , 6 December 2000; Vol. 359, c. 57.]

I am merely reminding the Government that we have to keep in touch with our electorate and with reality.--[ Official Report , 6 December 2000; Vol. 359, c. 69.]

The Queen's Speech does not contain a commitment to legislate on housing, transfer of stock and arm's-length companies.--[ Official Report , 6 December 2000; Vol. 359, c. 78.]

no plans to increase tax at all.

However, under the Government the tax burden has risen to 37.8 per cent. of national income--an increase since the election of 2.6 per cent. That is the equivalent of an extra 10p in the pound on income tax, which is a tax increase by anybody's standards.

Conservative participation in the Deregulation Committee is almost nil . . . on many occasions not a single Conservative Member is present.--[ Official Report , 6 December 2000; Vol. 359, c. 39.]

Question put, That the amendment be made:--

The House divided: Ayes 178, Noes 326.

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