Request for annual count of beer brewing companies from 1988 to 2019

The request was successful.

Dear HM Revenue and Customs,

Please can you provide me with number of brewers registered with HMRC or the relevant department (Customs and Excise) each year between 1988 and 2019.

Yours faithfully,

Peter Hills

foi.team@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk on behalf of Mincom & FOI Team Inbox, HM Revenue and Customs

Our ref: FOI2020/01408

Dear Mr Hills,

Freedom of Information Act 2000 Acknowledgement

Thank you for your communication of 2nd August which has been passed to
HMRC's Freedom of Information Team.

We have allocated the above reference which you should quote if you need
to contact us.

The Team will arrange for a reply to be sent to you which will either
comply with HMRC's obligations under Freedom of Information Act or, if we
think it's an enquiry that we don't need to address under the terms of the
Act, let you know why. If it is the latter we will, if possible, pass it
on to a more appropriate part of the Department for answer.

As you will appreciate, the coronavirus pandemic has provided
unprecedented challenges for Government Departments including HMRC. Over
the coming weeks our priorities are to provide critical existing and new
Public Services for Government to support customers during this difficult
time. As a result, resources may be diverted away from usual compliance or
information rights work. HMRC aims to respond to all FOIA Requests within
20 working days. If for whatever reason this timescale cannot be complied
with HMRC will, where possible, write to you explaining the reason for the
delay and providing an estimated time for response.

Yours sincerely

HMRC Freedom of Information Act Team

foi.team@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk on behalf of Central FOI Team, HM Revenue and Customs

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Hills,

We are writing in response to your request for information, received 2
August.

Yours sincerely,

HMRC Freedom of Information Team

Dear HM Revenue and Customs,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of HM Revenue and Customs's handling of my FOI request 'Request for annual count of beer brewing companies from 1988 to 2019'.

My request was for an annual count of brewing companies registered with HMRC. Instead I received a count of brewing companies added annually. With neither the original number of breweries nor the annual number of breweries who have closed down I cannot extrapolate the information I have requested. Can I have an annual count as requested please.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/r...

Yours faithfully,

Peter Hills

foi.team@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk on behalf of Central FOI Team, HM Revenue and Customs

Our ref: IR2020/01540

Dear Mr Hills,

Freedom of Information Act 2000 Acknowledgement

Thank you for your communication of 24th August which has been passed to
HMRC's Freedom of Information Team.

We have allocated the above reference which you should quote if you need
to contact us.

The Team will arrange for a reply to be sent to you which will either
comply with HMRC's obligations under Freedom of Information Act or, if we
think it's an enquiry that we don't need to address under the terms of the
Act, let you know why. If it is the latter we will, if possible, pass it
on to a more appropriate part of the Department for answer.

As you will appreciate, the coronavirus pandemic has provided
unprecedented challenges for Government Departments including HMRC. Over
the coming weeks our priorities are to provide critical existing and new
Public Services for Government to support customers during this difficult
time. As a result, resources may be diverted away from usual compliance or
information rights work. HMRC aims to respond to all FOIA Requests within
20 working days. If for whatever reason this timescale cannot be complied
with HMRC will, where possible, write to you explaining the reason for the
delay and providing an estimated time for response.

Yours sincerely

HMRC Freedom of Information Act Team

Dear [email address] on behalf of Central FOI Team,

Any news on this? It's been over six weeks since I reiterrated the information I require.

To be clear, I want to know how many breweries you have registered on your system for each of the years between 1988 and 2019. I do not want a list of how many new ones registered. Just a total count for each year. I understand that the first few years might not be possible due to the change over of systems when HMRC started.

If I don't hear anything by the end of the week I will assume that you are deliberately withholding this information from me and will have to make a complaint. I don't want to do that - I just want the information that you are supposed to provide me with on request.

Yours sincerely,

Peter Hills

HM Revenue and Customs

Dear Mr Hills,

Please accept my apologies for the delay in replying. I did plan to email you sooner than today.

I am dealing with your review and have asked the business area to produce a new data set. This is taking longer than we'd like as concerns have been raised about accuracy, especially for data covering earlier years. I am trying to resolve these concerns, which will then allow me to proceed with your review.

I hope to issue a reply to you within two weeks. I know this is not ideal and can only apologise for the continued delay.

Thank you,

Harjit

Harjit Garcha | FOI Adviser
Information Rights Unit | Solicitor's Office and Legal Services
HMRC | 7th Floor | Canary Wharf | 10 South Colonnade | London | E14 4PU

OFFICIAL

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Central FOI Team, HM Revenue and Customs

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Hills,

We are writing in response to your request for information, received 24
August.

Yours sincerely,

HMRC Freedom of Information Team