PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Ports: Smuggling (10 July 2020)

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment she has made of the ability of the UK's ports to cope with smuggling at the end of the transition arrangements with the EU; and if she will make a statement.

Asked by:
Ed Davey (Liberal Democrat)

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) are already tackling smuggling and they will continue to do so through intelligence-led targeting; the Department for International Trade (DIT) will not be making a statement on this issue. My Department continues to work closely with HMRC to make sure that the United Kingdom’s trade policy will be effectively operationalised at the border after the transition period ends.

Border controls on controlled goods will continue regardless of whether imports come from the European Union or Rest of the World countries. To ensure compliance with new customs procedures and controls at the border after transition period ends, my Rt Hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster recently announced a new infrastructure funding package that includes £470m to build the necessary infrastructure required.

Answered by:
Mr Ranil Jayawardena (Conservative)
16 July 2020