The scale of the Brexit challenge facing HMRC is extraordinary. The latest round of correspondence between HMRC and the Public Accounts Committee shows just how much must be done to ensure that systems and processes remain robust immediately after Brexit.
For example it is estimated that the annual number of customs declarations will increase from 55m to 255m. If the system broke down it could lead to chaos with goods stranded at the docks waiting for clearance to be brought into the country.
But it is not just the movement of goods: what about food safety? 30% of the food consumed in the UK is sourced from the EU. What food safety monitoring will be put in place once EU-wide measures no longer apply?
These issues are taking up more and more of Whitehall’s time and the pressures will only increase as we get closer to April 2019....
