Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many FTE staff employed by HMRC are working on issues related to tackling smuggling in the most recent period for which figures are available.
Border Force is responsible for tackling smuggling at the UK border. HMRC has staff that work closely with Border Force, and in the course of this joint working they will occasionally assist with anti-smuggling activity. HMRC is also responsible for the anti-fraud strategies that look to prevent the smuggling of excise goods such as tobacco, alcohol and oils, and for investigating smuggling offences. Given that HMRC compliance, analysis and investigation staff are charged with covering a wide range of activities, trying to identify the number who work on issues related to smuggling would require disproportionate effort. As a consequence the information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.