Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many customs intermediaries are employed in the UK as of November 2020; how many customs intermediaries he estimates will be employed by January 2021.
HMRC do not employ customs agents/customs intermediaries directly.
The sector is varied and made up of a number of different business models including specific customs brokers, freight forwarders and fast parcel operators; all of which will require varied numbers of staff. Many in the sector have innovated and brought in significant IT solutions which have reduced the numbers of staff they require.
The Government has made available over £80 million to increase the capacity of the sector. The grants are flexible in order to reflect the diversity of the sector and cover IT, training and recruitment to support businesses to innovate and work within their own business model.
The Government continues to monitor progress carefully and keeps all support mechanisms under review.