Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Oral Answers to Questions

Anne McLaughlin Excerpts
Tuesday 22nd June 2021

(2 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Rishi Sunak Portrait Rishi Sunak
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I am delighted for Plymouth and its surrounding communities that it has received freeport status. As my hon. Friend says, this is a fantastic opportunity to drive investment and create jobs. I will, of course, work with the Department for Transport on improving transport links across the south-west. She previously welcomed the £2.5 billion upgrade of vital road connections such as the A303, the A30 and the A358, as well as the replacement of the vital Dawlish sea wall, which will improve rail connectivity in the region.

Anne McLaughlin Portrait Anne McLaughlin (Glasgow North East) (SNP)
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What his Department’s policy is on the sharing of data between HMRC and the Home Office for immigration purposes.

Jesse Norman Portrait The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Jesse Norman)
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Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs has a strict duty of confidentiality in relation to information it holds on taxpayers. HMRC will share information on individuals or employers with the Home Office for immigration purposes only where a clear legal basis exists, and it will share or disclose only the information that is necessary and proportionate to the intended purpose through strict adherence to data protection principles, including the UK general data protection regulation. Personal data that is disclosed is minimised where it can be and strictly governed and subject to audit.

Anne McLaughlin Portrait Anne McLaughlin [V]
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It is not necessary and proportionate in the cases I have been hearing about. In one case, someone who had been here as a highly skilled migrant for 10 years was refused the right to remain because he had miscalculated his tax by £1.20 years previously. What global talent does the Minister think will want to take the risk of uprooting their families to another country that may well kick them out for something HMRC previously said was a minor issue?