HM REVENUE AND CUSTOMS OFFICE CLOSURES

That this House notes the Regional Review Programme of Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) which will continue beyond April 2008; is concerned about the threat of closure of HMRC offices in non-urban areas such as Shropshire and Herefordshire; appreciates the high level of service provided by HMRC staff in such offices; recognises the pressures that would be placed on HMRC staff by having to travel further to their place of work; further notes the economic impact that would be imposed by such closures and the additional burdens which could be faced by customers in non-urban areas; and calls on the Government to withdraw the threat of HMRC office closures in all non-urban areas and to implement a full socio-economic review of the impact of such office closures in those areas affected by these draconian proposals.