Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps HM Revenue and Customs is taking to encourage local authorities to remove alcohol licences from premises which have participated in the sale of (a) non-duty paid alcohol and (b) illicit tobacco.

HM Revenue and Customs works closely with other enforcement agencies to tackle illicit alcohol and tobacco and in both areas has identified the need to maximise the use of sanctions available across government.

This includes withdrawal of alcohol licenses for the offences listed in Schedule 4 to the Licensing Act 2003 such as the sale of illicit tobacco, counterfeit alcohol and the evasion of excise duty.

‎Using the range of sanctions available has been encouraged through continuing discussion and initiatives such as HMRC's review of sanctions for tobacco fraud. As part of that review HMRC has been working with Trading Standard on the application of existing sanctions and consideration of options for new sanctions, which could potentially apply to other excise duty fraud.

HMRC is currently considering responses to its consultation on proposals for new sanctions undertaken earlier this year.