Lord Bracknell
On fire
From the BBC website:-
UK faces booze cruise court case
The European Commission is taking legal action against Britain over cross-Channel shoppers, despite a last minute concession from the government.
The EC says British Customs officers are too tough in their treatment of consumers bringing cheap alcohol and cigarettes into the country.
Goods can be confiscated if the officers believe they have not been bought for personal consumption.
Dozens of people every year have goods and even their cars seized by customs.
Under EU rules, shoppers can buy beer, wine and cigarettes abroad, where taxes are lower, and bring it into Britain without paying British excise duties.
Customs officers have seized goods and impounded cars when shoppers come back with large amounts of goods to sell to friends and family.
The UK Treasury wants duty paid on those goods and officers say they only confiscate items when they suspect the rules are being exploited.
While taking property may sometimes be justified, the commission says it amounts to a "severe and intrusive" sanction in minor cases.
On Tuesday Chancellor Gordon Brown agreed Customs should let first-time offenders keep their cars and goods but pay evaded UK duty and a fine.
"It is accepted that we are talking about just 28 to 30 cases a year and we are very close to a deal with the commission," a government spokesman said.
"The chancellor has shown he is willing to make concessions and there is not a lot more to be done."
But that may not be enough to appease single market commissioner Frits Bolkestein, who has warned: "Cross-border shopping is a fundamental right under EU law and should not be regarded as a form of tax evasion."
Treasury Minister John Healey has said the £3bn-a-year excise duty losses from smuggling are effectively borne by ordinary taxpayers.
The case will go to the European Court of Justice.
UK faces booze cruise court case
The European Commission is taking legal action against Britain over cross-Channel shoppers, despite a last minute concession from the government.
The EC says British Customs officers are too tough in their treatment of consumers bringing cheap alcohol and cigarettes into the country.
Goods can be confiscated if the officers believe they have not been bought for personal consumption.
Dozens of people every year have goods and even their cars seized by customs.
Under EU rules, shoppers can buy beer, wine and cigarettes abroad, where taxes are lower, and bring it into Britain without paying British excise duties.
Customs officers have seized goods and impounded cars when shoppers come back with large amounts of goods to sell to friends and family.
The UK Treasury wants duty paid on those goods and officers say they only confiscate items when they suspect the rules are being exploited.
While taking property may sometimes be justified, the commission says it amounts to a "severe and intrusive" sanction in minor cases.
On Tuesday Chancellor Gordon Brown agreed Customs should let first-time offenders keep their cars and goods but pay evaded UK duty and a fine.
"It is accepted that we are talking about just 28 to 30 cases a year and we are very close to a deal with the commission," a government spokesman said.
"The chancellor has shown he is willing to make concessions and there is not a lot more to be done."
But that may not be enough to appease single market commissioner Frits Bolkestein, who has warned: "Cross-border shopping is a fundamental right under EU law and should not be regarded as a form of tax evasion."
Treasury Minister John Healey has said the £3bn-a-year excise duty losses from smuggling are effectively borne by ordinary taxpayers.
The case will go to the European Court of Justice.
