Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Business, Energy and Industry Strategy Committee Select Committee hearing on 15 March 2022, for what reason HMRC was unable to provide banks with access to revenue data for companies applying for covid-related finance products.

Jim Harra, Chief Executive and First Permanent Secretary of HMRC wrote to the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee concerning HMRC’s data-sharing with banks on 24 March 2022: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/9452/documents/161409/default/.

HMRC has always stood ready to assist the banks to prevent and tackle fraud in the Covid-19 loan schemes. At no time has HMRC declined to share data for this purpose.