AM Angered by centralisation of Welsh tax offices (Kirsty Williams AM )

Cymraeg
English

Kirsty Williams AM <info@kirstywilliams.org.uk>

AM Angered by centralisation of Welsh tax offices

February 29, 2008 12:00 PM

HM Revenue & Customs has today announced its staffing projections for 2008 which it is understood will result in the loss of over 850 Welsh jobs over the next three years. The HMRC only plans to have resourced offices in Carmarthen, Swansea, Colwyn Bay, Merthyr Tydfil, Wrexham, and Cardiff. Brecon is one of the 14 offices earmarked for closure, with only a minimum face to face presence remaining in the town.

Welsh Liberal Democrat AM for Brecon & Radnorshire Kirsty Williams said

"I am concerned that today's announced closures in Swansea & Cardiff Urban Centres, some of the most economically deprived areas in the EU, are leading the HMRC's march to close a vast majority of tax offices across Wales.

"Brecon has been earmarked for closure and its services are being slowly eroded away despite the continued campaign to save the office. The loss of these jobs would be a great blow to the economy in Brecon and calls into question the viability and sustainability of any future customer facing presence which would be a severe loss to local people.

"These proposals fly in the face of all stated Welsh Assembly Government policy regarding sustainable development and spreading economic prosperity out of Cardiff. Instead the HMRC's proposals would see a massive centralisation shift towards Cardiff and the devastating loss of quality jobs in some of the poorest areas of Wales.

"It is widely felt that the consultation process to date has been a failure with alternative options to closure being ignored without consideration.

"I shall continue to call upon the Assembly Government to apply pressure on the Westminster Government to reconsider what is yet another affront on our local services without full consideration of the socio-economic effects on local communities."

Notes:

HMRC today announced its decision on the future of offices in the Swansea & Cardiff Urban Centres. As a result, Llanelli, Swansea Pierhead, Pontypridd, Newport, and Cardiff Portcullis House offices will close.

The following offices are offices earmarked for closure, with only a minimum face to face presence remaining in the town.

Aberystwyth

Bangor

Rhyl

Brecon

Bridgend

Newport

Pontypridd

Haverfordwest

Pembroke Dock

Holyhead

Llanelli