Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of trade statistics collected by the Government on identifying trade flows through second countries (a) in general and (b) where the UK exports a good or service to a first country which is then export on as a finished product.

UK Trade-in-Goods statistics are mainly compiled using customs documentation for non-EU movements, and via the Intrastat survey for EU movements. Goods which are transhipped through a first country (e.g. for transport reasons) en route to a second are recorded as movements to the ultimate receiving country (subject to the way in which they are declared to HMRC). Goods which are exported to a first country (e.g. for further process) will be recorded as an export to that country.

Quality checks are regularly undertaken by HMRC with regard to all types of movements. More information on the Data Quality checks that are carried out by HMRC can be found in this published document “Methodology paper for the Overseas Trade Statistics” (https://www.uktradeinfo.com/Statistics/OverseasTradeStatistics/AboutOverseastradeStatistics/Documents/OTSMethodology_paper.pdf) .

The UK Trade in Goods publication is a National Statistics product, meaning amongst other things, it is recognised for its quality.