| MP Raises Tax Office Closure in Parliament |
| Monday, 10 March 2008 | |
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Southport's MP John Pugh this morning met several staff from the local tax office unhappy with proposals to relocate them to Liverpool. Dr Pugh has blasted the move as being "deeply cynical" after staff raised concerns about being able to keep their jobs when faced with an 80-minute rush hour commute. A large proportion of the staff affected are women with young children, who are simply unable to travel to Liverpool on a daily basis; the fact that many of these women will now have to give up their jobs is something which Dr Pugh claims is in direct contradiction with current government policy.
"The Government love to talk about "work-life balance", and getting more women into work" commented the MP this morning. "And yet in reality they simply don't want to know. HMRC must have been aware that this move would have an adverse effect on a large number of loyal, hard-working staff members. The fact that they're going ahead with this closure despite the concerns that have been raised shows that many of their "work-life" initiatives are little more than hot air." Dr Pugh raised the issue in Parliament on Thursday (6th March), when he asked Jane Kennedy, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, how many jobs she thought would be lost as a result of the closure. The minister replied that "All the staff affected by last Friday’s announcements will be able to consult their managers to ensure that changes affecting them are handled in the most appropriate way for their circumstances" (1) - a response that left Dr Pugh less than impressed. "The government say they will take individual circumstances into account whilst simultaneously putting people in an untenable position. The staff I met this morning certainly didn't feel like managers were listening to them." Dr Pugh has now pledged to take the issue further, and will seek clarification from the Treasury as to exactly what savings will be made by the move. "I'm not convinced that there is a financial need for this move, and will be taking the issue up with HMRC. It seems to me like yet another case of an ill-thought through PFI scheme, with staff once again having to pay the price for its failure. This government doesn't listen, and it doesn't learn. It's simply unacceptable." |