Asked by: Ross Thomson (Conservative - Aberdeen South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on the economy of north-east Scotland of the proposed closure of all HM Revenue and Customs offices north of Glasgow and Edinburgh, including the office at Ruby House, Aberdeen.
Answered by Mel Stride - Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) established a clear set of location principles to determine where to site its regional centres and considered these principles alongside the impact on its people. Its Locations Programme will bring teams together in large offices, enabling them to work together to maximise tax revenue and tackle fraud and evasion irrespective of where it occurs.
HMRC is confident that the regional centres in Edinburgh and Glasgow, together with its specialist site at Gartcosh, will serve the whole of Scotland effectively.
Asked by: Ross Thomson (Conservative - Aberdeen South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the proposed closure of the Ruby House HM Revenue and Customs office in Aberdeen on the local economy.
Answered by Mel Stride - Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC’s) Locations Programme will save more than £300 million up to 2025, and will deliver annual cash savings of £74 million in 2025/26, rising to more than £90m by 2028.
Moving to Regional Centres will also deliver benefits to tax collection and customer service. The Locations Programme will bring teams together in large offices, enabling them to work together to tackle fraud and evasion, irrespective of where it occurs. The benefits have therefore been considered as a whole and not in isolation of an individual office.
HMRC is prioritising its commitment to maximising tax revenue, increasing compliance and reducing the tax gap.
Asked by: Ross Thomson (Conservative - Aberdeen South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the potential savings to the public purse from the proposed closure of the Ruby House HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) office in Aberdeen; and what account was taken in making the decision to close that office of the potential effect of that proposed closure on HMRCs' ability to collect tax.
Answered by Mel Stride - Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC’s) Locations Programme will save more than £300 million up to 2025, and will deliver annual cash savings of £74 million in 2025/26, rising to more than £90m by 2028.
Moving to Regional Centres will also deliver benefits to tax collection and customer service. The Locations Programme will bring teams together in large offices, enabling them to work together to tackle fraud and evasion, irrespective of where it occurs. The benefits have therefore been considered as a whole and not in isolation of an individual office.
HMRC is prioritising its commitment to maximising tax revenue, increasing compliance and reducing the tax gap.