New computer to speed vat
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BIG EFFORTS are to be made over the next few years to speed up the clearance of imports through the greater use of computers.
New cargo processing systems, similar to the one which came into operation at Felixstowe last year, will be introduced at Dover and Southampton over the next two years, the Customs and Excise annual report has revealed.
Traders can key information directly into the Customs' own computer system.
The trade has shown a lot of interest in linking its own computers with the Departmental Entry Processing System which started two years ago, said the report.
As a result, Customs and Excise, the Department of Trade and Industry, and the National Data Processing Service has started a study to provide a standard for a universal interface.
Under a proposed successor scheme most, if not all, Customs offices will have automatic data processing facilities and there will be much more widespread direct input by traders.