HM REVENUE AND CUSTOMS AND THE UK TAX GAP

That this House is extremely concerned by the announcement from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) on 16th November 2006 concerning the rationalisation and centralisation of work which will result in up to 25,000 job cuts and the closure of up to 200 local offices; believes that these measures will result in a poorer service to the public and could effectively render HMRC unfit for purpose; supports the Public and Commercial Services Union in its campaign for good quality services and conditions for staff; and therefore calls on the Government to reverse the decision and instead invest in frontline services; and further calls for a public inquiry into the question of the proper level of resources required to address the huge UK tax gap and establish effective detection and deterrence of crime in relation to UK border control.