Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Immigration: Sharing of Data between HMRC and Home Office

Tuesday 22 June 2021 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • HMRC has a strict duty of confidentiality regarding taxpayer information.
  • HMRC shares information with the Home Office for immigration purposes only when a legal basis exists.
  • The Minister cannot comment on individual cases but encourages raising them with HMRC.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Anne McLaughlin SNP
Immigration Taxation
Context

No specific background or context is provided, but the question pertains to concerns about data sharing practices.

Question

What his Department's policy is on the sharing of data between HMRC and the Home Office for immigration purposes?

Answer from Jesse Norman

Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs has a strict duty of confidentiality in relation to information it holds on taxpayers. HMRC will share information on individuals or employers with the Home Office for immigration purposes only where a clear legal basis exists, and it will share or disclose only the information that is necessary and proportionate to the intended purpose through strict adherence to data protection principles, including the UK general data protection regulation.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q2 Anne McLaughlin SNP
Immigration Taxation
Context

The MP raises concerns about specific cases where data sharing between HMRC and the Home Office has led to individuals being refused the right to remain due to minor tax issues.

Question

It is not necessary and proportionate in the cases I have been hearing about. In one case, someone who had been here as a highly skilled migrant for 10 years was refused the right to remain because he had miscalculated his tax by £1.20 years previously. What global talent does the Minister think will want to take the risk of uprooting their families to another country that may well kick them out for something HMRC previously said was a minor issue?

Answer from Jesse Norman

For reasons that I have described, I cannot comment on individual cases. However, the hon. Lady is welcome to raise them with HMRC on behalf of her constituents. I can tell her that legislation provides very specific, well-designed information-sharing gateways under an umbrella memorandum of understanding governing all data sharing between the two sides, and all of that is grounded in strict obedience with the law.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Individual cases are not addressed directly; instead, a general statement about adherence to legal frameworks is provided.

How: Cannot Comment On Individual Cases

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)