Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps HMRC is taking to tackle carousel or missing trader intra-community fraud in the scrap metal sector.

HMRC has identified metals as a common commodity used to perpetrate Missing Trader Intra Community (MTIC) fraud and will take all necessary and proportionate steps to tackle it. HMRC is committed to tackling tax fraud through the most effective means possible, and has successfully reduced fraud levels by a significant amount.

HMRC works closely with businesses to raise their awareness and understanding of risks, promoting good governance and risk assessment, in order to minimise the likelihood of them becoming involved in fraudulent supply chains.

One of HMRC’s approaches for tackling MTIC fraud is to continuously monitor traders in risk sectors. This enables HMRC to quickly identify suspect activity and make early interventions.

HMRC also carries out criminal investigations and prosecutions in line with its published criminal investigation policy as part of this wide ranging programme of interventions to combat MTIC fraud.