The cross-party panel of MPs and Peers conducting the inquiry met for the first time on 10 May and elected Andrew Griffiths MP, Conservative Member for Burton and Chair of the APPBG and Rt Hon John Healey MP, Labour Member for Wentworth and Dearne and ex-Treasury Minister, as joint chairs. 

The Panel agreed: To deliver a cross-party, objective assessment of the impact of beer duty fraud and proposed measures to counter it, providing a robust report with clear recommendations to HM Treasury by 17 July 2012.

And the following terms of reference: To investigate the nature, scale and impact of beer duty fraud in the UK and the evidential basis of HMRC’s estimates, to assess the strengths and weaknesses of HMRC’s proposals to counter this fraud and to consider reasons for failure of the present system and alternative recommendation.

Treasury Minister Chloe Smith has welcomed the inquiry and its contribution to the debate on reducing fraud.