Customs costs rise above inflation

THE cost of collecting taxes and duties by HM Customs and Excise is rising faster than the rate of inflation, according to a report yesterday by the Commons Public Accounts Committee. Those costs rose 12 per cent in 1991-92, to pounds 643m. The committee said Customs blamed a 7.8 per cent executive-grades pay rise. But the Single European Market has led to 1,600 posts being cut.