MEP raises fuel smuggling with EU & Secretary of State
07 January 2008
Following the latest expose by the News Letter of fuel smuggling, Traditional Unionist MEP, Jim Allister, has raised the matter afresh with both the Secretary of State and the EU Commission.
Focusing with the Secretary of State on the suggested softly, softly approach which political considerations induce, Mr Allister protests that any toleration of “an acceptable level” of smuggling must be abandoned and new tough powers introduced to include withdrawing petrol retail licences and permitting disabling of fuel tanks used to store illegal fuel.
Also, since fuel smuggling distorts free trade and gives rise to unfair competition, the MEP has also raised the matter with the EU Commission and invited it to respond.
The text of Mr Allister’s representations are as follows:-
LETTER TO SECRETARY OF STATE:
Dear Secretary of State,
I refer you to the reports in the News Letter of 7 January 2008 on the subject of fuel smuggling and the treatment of such.
Can you confirm and comment upon the accuracy of the figures quoted therein, including the paucity of court action and penalties imposed. At a time of stringent spending restraints it is quite appalling that so much revenue is being lost, with apparent disproportionate response through the courts. Also of great concern is the suggestion that political considerations are tempering the response to this crime. Certainly, the symmetry between the geographical location of the bulk of the offending and the local control of Sinn Fein/IRA fuel the belief of many that political considerations are taming the efforts to liquidate this scourge. It seems as if there is toleration of "an acceptable level" of smuggling. Such, is and ought to be utterly unacceptable.
Among the matters raised as requiring attention are more vigorous restrictions on the issueing and renewing of petrol retail licences and the granting of powers for HMRC, or others, to shut down forecourts and/or disable fuel tanks. Surely, if you are serious about stamping out this criminality you need to toughen the powers available to the agencies struggling to cope with this rampant defiance of the law.
I trust you will not hold back in responding to this symptom of lawlessness in South Armagh.
Yours sincerely,
PRIORITY WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE EU COMMISSION:
"Given the distortion which results to fair and legal trade, is the Commission satisfied with the level of action taken to stamp out illegal fuel-smuggling and fuel-laundering across the border between the UK and the Republic of Ireland? And in this regard will the Commission take into account the alarming reports in the "Belfast News Letter" of 7 January 2008 as reported at http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/Inquiry-into-how-fuel-fraudsters.3645869.jp ?"
