HMRC OFFICE CLOSURES IN THE SOUTH OF ENGLAND

That this House is concerned by the proposals of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to close the vast majority of offices on its estate; notes that this will result in the loss of jobs and services, with damaging impacts on local economies; is further concerned that this would also mean that the whole of the South of England would be covered from regional centres in Croydon and Bristol, creating unworkable distances between many major South Coast ports and HMRC offices; fears that, without the timely assistance from HMRC staff, the ability of Border Force staff to apprehend smugglers and other criminals will be significantly diminished; believes that the loss of specialist expertise and experience from HMRC cuts and closures will seriously undermine the capacity of the Civil Service to implement any new customs arrangements resulting from EU withdrawal negotiations; and calls on the Government to instruct HMRC to put these proposals on hold, pending further Parliamentary scrutiny and commissioning of robust socio-economic impact assessments.