20/03/2002
Bell calls for action on fuel smuggling
The Chairman of the Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee, Billy Bell, has raised the issue of fuel smuggling in Northern Ireland during the First Minister’s Question Time on Tuesday, March 19.
Mr Bell said: “This is an issue which has greatly concerned me. Through the smuggling of illegal fuel, legitimate petrol retailers in Northern Ireland have been driven out of business, while the supply of illegal fuel may be funding the activities of paramilitaries and other criminal gangs.”
Mr Bell said that a recent report by the National Audit Office in Westminster had estimated the loss of revenue from fraud and illegal cross border shopping on petrol and diesel in Northern Ireland during 2000 to be £380 million. He said that as a direct consequence of the illegal activity, over 140 petrol retailers had been forced to close.
He concluded “The Public Accounts Committee in Westminster are in the process of carrying out an enquiry on this very issue. Indeed, last week I spoke with the Westminster Committee Chairman and the corresponding Chairpersons in Scotland and Wales expressing my concerns and highlighting the particular problems which are unique to Northern Ireland. I await with interest the Westminster Committee’s report on its investigations, which is to be issued in the near future.
Mr Bell welcomed the recent appointment by the Secretary of State of Professor Goldstock as a special adviser on organised crime.
He said that he looked forward to the local economy reaping the benefits of these endeavours.”
(SP)
Mr Bell said: “This is an issue which has greatly concerned me. Through the smuggling of illegal fuel, legitimate petrol retailers in Northern Ireland have been driven out of business, while the supply of illegal fuel may be funding the activities of paramilitaries and other criminal gangs.”
Mr Bell said that a recent report by the National Audit Office in Westminster had estimated the loss of revenue from fraud and illegal cross border shopping on petrol and diesel in Northern Ireland during 2000 to be £380 million. He said that as a direct consequence of the illegal activity, over 140 petrol retailers had been forced to close.
He concluded “The Public Accounts Committee in Westminster are in the process of carrying out an enquiry on this very issue. Indeed, last week I spoke with the Westminster Committee Chairman and the corresponding Chairpersons in Scotland and Wales expressing my concerns and highlighting the particular problems which are unique to Northern Ireland. I await with interest the Westminster Committee’s report on its investigations, which is to be issued in the near future.
Mr Bell welcomed the recent appointment by the Secretary of State of Professor Goldstock as a special adviser on organised crime.
He said that he looked forward to the local economy reaping the benefits of these endeavours.”
(SP)
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