Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the oral evidence of the HMRC director general of border co-ordination to the Public Accounts Committee on 5 November 2018, HC 1595, Question 51, what assessment has been made of the ability of the inland facilities to handle high-risk trade through (a) container and (b) roll-on roll-off ports across all four UK nations.

HMRC has moved its inland pre-clearance operations to new purpose-equipped sites at Hayes and Milton Keynes. Although these sites were originally procured for the examination of Rest of World trade, post EU Exit they will be also be used to examine EU trade, within the capacity available. Checks may be performed on consignments from high risk traders from both container and roll-on roll-off ports across the whole of the UK, if required. The Government will consider the need for further sites as it evolves its approach and assesses any new risks that emerge.