Smuggling

(asked on 17th July 2020) - View Source

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the merits of collaborating with private prosecutors in tackling illicit trade in the UK.


Answered by
Jesse Norman Portrait
Jesse Norman
This question was answered on 23rd July 2020

The UK is committed to continued cooperation with European partners on tackling illicit trade. As part of negotiations with the EU, the UK has proposed provisions for customs cooperation and mutual administrative assistance. This would enable the parties to work together while upholding their respective customs regimes, to protect revenue and combat criminality through efficient and reciprocal exchange of information and mutual assistance across customs matters.

The Government is clear that everyone must pay tax that is legally due, no matter who they are. The Government has a strong record in tackling tax avoidance, evasion and non-compliance. With regard to collaboration with private prosecutors, the information that HMRC can lawfully share with third parties is restricted by the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 (CRCA). However, HMRC have existing structures in place to allow for the receipt, management and exploitation of information and intelligence from individuals and private sector sources.

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