Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the benefits of retaining the existing HM Revenue and Customs' operation in Middlesbrough.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) announced the planned locations of its future Regional Centres based on a number of key principles that will enable it to deliver more for less. In addition to cost, these include quality of local and national transport links, the local labour market and future workforce supply, the retention of current staff and skills and capacity to host multiple lines of business which are required to continue its transformation.

HMRC’s plans to open a Regional Centre in Newcastle in 2018-19 demonstrate its long-term commitment to the North East. It intends to remain in Washington as a transitional site until 2024-25.