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<p>As a non-Ministerial department HMRC have operational independence from Treasury
Ministers. Neither HM Treasury nor any Minister had any involvement in HMRC’s decision
not to execute a French request for a search warrant on Lycamobile’s offices in the
UK.</p><p>HMRC have made clear that they did not hinder the French investigation into
Lycamobile’s offices in the UK. HMRC worked with the French authorities over a period
of several weeks to help them understand the extent of the information that would
be needed as part of a successful application for a UK search warrant. HMRC have stated
that the decision not to execute the French request was taken on the grounds that
the French authorities provided insufficient information to meet the statutory criteria
for a UK search warrant, set out in the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.</p><p>Details
of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental
business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel</a>
and</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/senior-officials-expenses"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/senior-officials-expenses</a></p>
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