Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he has taken to promote the grants available to small businesses in relation to new customs requirements after the UK leaves the EU.

HMRC’s grant scheme to support customs intermediaries and traders has been promoted through numerous channels including; GOV.UK messaging and guidance, trade and regional media, HMRC social media, email communications to stakeholders, regular articles in established bulletins for agents and employers since December 2018, and inclusion within HMRC’s wider EU Exit communications such as the Partnership Pack.

Media activity has included an initial media statement in September 2018, followed by a press release in December 2018 and inclusion in a wider regional press release on preparing for EU Exit in February 2019.

We are also engaging with key industry stakeholders, including associations and representative bodies, through groups such as the Joint Customs Consultative Committee (JCCC) and the Customs Capacity Advisory Group (CCAG). In particular we have worked closely with the CCAG, which includes stakeholders such as the British Chamber of Commerce, British International Freight Association and Federation of Small Businesses, to help cascade the message to businesses.