Local AM makes final bid to save Welshpool Tax Office

11.58.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 1st Jul 2008

Montgomeryshire AM Mick Bates makes a final bid to save Welshpool Tax Office, submitting his views on the proposals by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC). These form part of the Government's drive to undertake a nationwide programme of reviews of its office network, which may lead to around 25,000 jobs being axed and over 200 Revenue and Customs offices being closed across the UK.

Commenting Mick Bates: "The staff in Welshpool Tax Office are dedicated, hardworking and committed and as a result are extremely well experienced, since staff turnover is significantly lower than in larger offices. In these circumstances it appears illogical to reduce staff and close offices, especially those which are delivering a good service.

"The closure of the facility in Welshpool would be a retrograde step for the service and achieving a similar level of commitment from staff in a larger office would be difficult for the HMRC. The value in professional outputs from a confident, experienced and committed staff team far outweighs any cost saving that may be achieved by dissolving the office in Welshpool.

"Montgomeryshire is a rural area and people frequently travel long distances to and from work and the region has some of the poorest paid people in the country. The 47 jobs in Welshpool Tax Office are worth some £2million to the local economy and the impact of losing so many good jobs in this area cannot be underestimated.

"If the Government were truly committed to creating sustainable local economies then it would recognise that rural communities need good employment opportunities! Centralised services are not the answer in rural Wales and the Government's systematic attack on our local services spells disaster for small towns such as Welshpool.

"I have made my bid to save Welshpool Tax Office and I hope that officials at HMRC will take these comments into account when determining the future for the staff team in Welshpool."