Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has had recent discussions with the National Crime Agency on tackling the illicit tobacco trade.

Tackling the illicit tobacco trade is the responsibility of HMRC and Border Force, who carry out enforcement activity throughout the illicit supply chain and are supported at retail level by Trading Standards.

Last year this enforcement activity resulted in the seizure of over 1.3 billion cigarettes and 92 tonnes of hand rolling tobacco as well as 194 arrests and 107 convictions.

HMRC work closely with a range of law enforcement partners, including the National Crime Agency, to support each other in tackling organised crime.