Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer,what processes his Department uses to (a) audit its track and trace contract arrangements with De La Rue and (b) ensure that De La Rue's subcontractors are independent from the tobacco industry.

This question was answered on 3rd September 2019

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) appointed De La Rue as the UK ID Issuer for the tobacco track and trace scheme following a comprehensive external commercial exercise.

The audit requirements are set out in the Tobacco Products Directive (2014/40/EU) and implemented through the Tobacco Products (Traceability and Security Features) Regulations 2019. The regulations require De La Rue and their sub-contractors to provide HMRC with an annual declaration to ensure compliance with the independence criteria. The declaration must include a full list of services provided to the tobacco industry during the last calendar year, and a statement of the annual amount of worldwide turnover including how much of that turnover is generated from goods and services provided to the tobacco industry.

HMRC recognises the importance of protecting tobacco public health polices from the commercial and vested interests of the tobacco industry, however it would be premature to reassess its contractual arrangements with De La Rue while the Serious Fraud Office investigation is ongoing.