Accounting Officer Assessment: HMRC Trader Support Service Programme further contract extension
A summary of the main points from the HMRC Accounting Officer's assessment of this major government programme.
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In September 2023, HMRC’s Accounting Officer undertook a further assessment of the Trader Support Service Programme.
On 27 February 2023, the UK and EU agreed the Windsor Framework, providing a fundamentally new set of arrangements to restore the smooth flow of trade within the UK internal market, safeguard Northern Ireland’s place in the UK and address the democratic deficit that was at the heart of the original Northern Ireland Protocol. These arrangements were adopted at the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee on 24 March 2023.
The TSS was initially procured until 31 December 2022 and a first extension (until 31 December 2023) was agreed last year. Since that point, HMRC has assessed the medium and long-term options for the TSS and considers that another one-year extension until 31 December 2024 is required.
As a core part of the Windsor Framework arrangements, the government is committed to ensuring traders are supported as the Windsor Framework is implemented - whether goods are moved into Northern Ireland via the green lane or the red lane, the government will continue to provide support for traders, and the TSS is a key element of this.
The Accounting Officer’s assessment concluded that the programme remains value for money and deliverable.