PCS UTTERLY REJECTS THE HMRC ANNOUNCEMENT TO CLOSE 11 OFFICES ACROSS WALES. YOU CAN NOW READ THE PCS DRAFT          RESPONSES TO THE DEPARTMENT BY CLICKING ON THE FOLLOWING LINKS: ABERYSTWYTH, PEMBROKESHIRE, AND BRIDGEND. WE      ALSO URGE ALL VISITORS TO THIS SITE TO LOBBY YOUR MP & AM AGAINST THESE DEVASTATING CUTS. PLEASE CONTACT STEVE            LAZENBY FOR MORE DETAILS. GUIDANCE TO MEMBERS IS CONTAINED IN BRANCH MEMOS - SCROLL DOWN TO TABLE.  This branch            issued  more than one memo per week in 2008 - we are as committed to communicating with members in 2009.

On 15th December 2008, PCS SW Wales learned that HMRC in the past twelve months have increased the number of senior managers in the department by 104, whilst cutting the number of administrative staff (AA to HO) by 2,822. This follows the pattern ever since the formation of HMRC - swathing cuts in the number of frontline staff, with increases in bureaucrats responsible for the mess we find ourselves in. An utter disgrace which needs to be highlighted nationally.

The political campaigning, public reaction, and excellent business cases to retain offices (which can be read by clicking on the links above) have all been ignored by HMRC. The devastating news that four tax offices are to close, with massive uncertainty for all members in those locations, comes as a bitter blow to local economies and the ability of the department to serve the public. Click HERE for the memo issued to all members today (4th December 2008).

The priority for the branch is to ensure that all members' who wish to continue their career with the civil service have the opportunity to do so. In the coming four weeks, members' in affected offices will have one to one interviews with their manager. PCS representation and guidance is available. The guidance issued to members in memo 005-08 (see table below) pertains to all other members. We will be working tirelessly to ensure that you are treated fairly.

Click HERE for the official PCS Revenue & Customs Group reaction.

Angela Burns AM (Pembrokeshire South & West Carmarthen) raised the Pembrokeshire closures with Rhodri Morgan AM. The text of the exchange is noted below:

Financially At-risk Households
Q10 Angela Burns: What steps is the Welsh
Assembly Government taking to assist
households that may be financially at risk in
Wales? OAQ(3)1552(FM)

The First Minister: This is an enormously
important issue, given rising unemployment,
the threat of house repossession, increases in
debt, increasing bank charges, and increasing
charges on credit cards and so forth. There is
a multiplicity of problems in this area. Our
financial inclusion strategy will outline the
action that we intend to take to support those
in financial need across Wales. We will aim
to improve financial literacy, financial
capability, income maximisation, and to
ensure access to affordable credit via credit
unions and other means.

Angela Burns: One of the things that you
did not mention in that long list of actions is
making representations to Westminster and,
in particular, to the Secretary of State for
Work and Pensions. In my constituency, the
problem that we have is that the tax offices in
Haverfordwest and Pembroke Dock will be
closed. Carmarthen is also suffering. The
people affected by that face a severe financial
risk, and there are precious few other jobs
available in that area. For them to travel to
work in Swansea or Cardiff is simply not
feasible on their salaries and neither is it
good for the climate, and there are many
other good reasons for their not being able to
do that.

Could you tell me what actions you may be
able to take and what pressure you may be
able to bring to bear on the Westminster
Government so that it rescinds that decision
and keeps these necessary jobs in areas where
there are not many chances of alternative
employment?

The First Minister: It was a very sad day for
the local availability of tax advice for people
living in those areas, as well as, obviously,
for those who hold jobs in those areas and
who may have difficulties in terms of their
ability to travel to work.

I thought that there had been a partial
rescinding of the job closure announcement
in relation to Pembroke Dock-I will have to
look into that, as my memory may be playing
tricks on me. Although we all accept that it
was a sad day, I think the issue is that the
decision has been made by Her Majesty's
Revenue and Customs and the Westminster
Government. It is probably only in
Aberystwyth that we can assist by way of
alternative jobs being available. We have
been working to ensure that people who lose
DWP and HMRC jobs can apply for jobs in
our mid Wales regional office in
Aberystwyth. That will be building up staff
during 2009.

On the wider issue of the actual advice that
people get, it is important that the advice that
we fund through Shelter, or the advice that
we jointly fund through various bodies that
give debt advice, for example, the citizens
advice bureaux network or the community
legal service-most of it is provided by
different agencies of the Westminster
Government-is there if people wish to
access it. It is quite complicated, depending
on the kind of advice that you need-whether
it is advice on housing, debt or legal aid.
People should be able to access the advice
that they need to avoid getting deeper into
debt and facing real problems of court action
or home repossession.
 

Mark Williams MP (Ceredigion) has placed an Early Day Motion condemning the closures. We urge all MPs visiting this site to sign up and add your support:

Reproduced below is the official statement by Stephen Crabb MP (Preseli Pembrokeshire) to the announcements:

Haverfordwest Tax Office Closure
>
> Commenting on the announcement today by the Government that it has
> decided to press ahead with the closure of Haverfordwest Tax Office,
> Preseli Pembrokeshire MP Stephen Crabb said
>
> "I am bitterly disappointed about the outcome of the Government's
> consultation on the closures but I am hardly surprised. At no stage
> since I first secured a House of Commons debate on the issue back in
> 2006 have I sensed that Ministers were serious about saving the jobs
> that were under threat. The HMRC staff in Haverfordwest have worked
> under enormous pressure and uncertainty over the last two years and
> deserve huge credit for the way they have conducted themselves
   during  the consultation. The news today comes at the worst possible time of
> year and with a severe economic downturn fast-approaching. This is a
> huge blow to the tax office employees and to the wider community."
>
> - ends -
>
>
> Stephen Crabb MP

PCS SW Wales branch would wish to pay tribute to the efforts of Stephen, and all local politicians, for their efforts. The fight goes on. We will do all we can to protect our members' interests.

Plaid Cymru have also issued a strong statement:

Plaid Cymru AM Leanne Wood said: "I am extremely disappointed at this news.

"Too many of these closures will be in Wales' most deprived communities."

The official PCS Wales reaction is now reproduced below:

UNION SLAMS GOVERNMENT OFFICE CLOSURE DECISION

The main civil service union, the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) has condemned the UK Government’s decision to close nine HMRC (Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs) offices in Wales.

The 370 staff affected were told at 10.00 am today that their offices would close. The offices concerned are in Aberystwyth, Bangor, Brecon, Bridgend, Carmarthen, Haverfordwest, Pembroke Dock, Pontypool and Rhyl. A second Carmarthen office will remain open but each of the other towns will lose its HMRC presence altogether.  There was relief, however, that the Merthyr Tydfil office, previously proposed for closure, had been reprieved.

PCS Senior National Officer for Wales, Jeff Evans said, “The decision to close these offices is misguided and damaging. We are witnessing the bizarre spectacle of two governments led by the same political party implementing contradictory policies. The UK Government is abandoning large parts of Wales through its policy of axing posts and centralising those remaining jobs in major urban centres. The Welsh Assembly Government is doing the exact reverse, spending a small fortune relocating its own jobs out of Cardiff to all parts of Wales. This is Mickey Mouse economics with the Welsh taxpayer picking up the bill. In effect, the Welsh Government will be left to sweep up the mess left by the UK Government.”

He added “Job cuts are already damaging the ability of HMRC to function and undermining public confidence in the department. The government has to recognise that this erosion of confidence can only be halted by having enough civil and public servants with the right resources to do the job. As the recession deepens and people become more reliant on public services, the department and the government should stop adding to growing number of unemployed and call a halt to the office closure and job cuts programme."

 

We have kept below the examples of the efforts to retain our offices. Merthyr Tydfil has been retained - good news for members there. However, the arguments to retain that office in an Objective One area hold just as true in SW Wales. The Government should be ashamed of themselves!
 

Click HERE to read the last minute appeal to Rhodri Morgan AM regarding office closures. A similar letter has been sent to Paul Murphy MP, Secretary of State for Wales. The announcements will definitely be on 4th December 2008. PCS SW Wales remains committed to saving our local offices. Good press coverage continues to be received - click HERE for the Western Mail 2nd December 2008.

If you read nothing else about the state of HMRC in 2008, see our branch memo 029 on Post Centralisation in the table below!!

Political briefing to Welsh MPs & AMs (7th October 2008) can be viewed by clicking HERE.

Read an exchange of questions in the Welsh Assembly July 2008 here. PCS met with the Deputy First Minister, Ieuan Wynn Jones, on 21st July 2008 to follow up. Click HERE for the minutes of that meeting. Click HERE for the subsequent press release. There is also a photograph of the event HERE.

Click HERE to see Nick Ainger MPs submission to Workforce Change.

Click HERE to view Paul Davies AM website, including photographs' of his visit to Haverfordwest office.

Click HERE to view Mark Williams MP website, which includes his activities regarding HMRC in Aberystwyth.

Click HERE to view Plaid Cymru's support for our campaign for adequate National Minimum Wage enforcement.

TEEL. This is the new compliance centre being situated in Swansea & Carmarthen. Following months of complex and detailed negotiations, PCS has secured the future jobs for the majority of members in Swansea, Carmarthen, and Llanelli, with opportunities for those members elsewhere in SW Wales to apply for positions. An additional 43 jobs have been created in SW Wales, an incredible achievement in these times.

Click HERE for the memo detailing the final agreement issued to all SW Wales members. Also, memo issued to ESS members - click here.

In addition to the TEEL posts, it has been confirmed that Carmarthen will also be the site for a new CT Processing centre. Branch officials are attempting to garner full details of staffing & grading issues for this, and the site will be updated as soon as possible.

ABERYSTWYTH confirmed as being a Compliance Strategic Site. Another victory for hard campaigning. Full update following the Workforce Change announcements on 11th June 2008.

Announcements Friday 29th February 2008. See this link for a political briefing issued to Welsh politicians. The campaign continues. Walkout at Llanelli office. Click HERE for a picture of staff walking out in protest at the decision.

As soon as the timetable for reviews of cluster & individual offices is announced, we will spring into action.

On 21st November, Stephen Crabb MP led a debate on Customs cover in Wales. To view this, click on THIS link - you will need to scroll forward to Stephen commencing his speech, about an hour & a half in. Another excellent contribution by a local SW Wales MP.

TWO OF OUR DISCS ARE MISSING...SERIOUS OPERATIONAL FAILINGS...THE BOSS IS NO MORE (AND LET NO ONE BE IN ANY DOUBT THAT HIS PASSING WAS MOST CERTAINLY NOT REGRETTED BY PCS MEMBERS)....WHAT A SHAMBLES, ALL OWING TO THE CUTS PROGRAMME. CLICK HERE FOR THE BRIEFING WE RELEASED TO WELSH POLITICIANS THIS WEEK.

Access Special Access Special 2 Access Special 3 Access Special 4 Access Special 5 Access Special 6	Nick Ainger MP	Mark Williams MP	Nia Griffith MP	Madeleine Moon MP	Stephen Crabb MP	Other MPs Click here for an excellent example of local campaigning in Ceredigion Stephen Crabb's speech to Parliament
Click on the links to see letters sent by Ceredigion Council to Dawn Primarolo Gordon Brown Welsh Assembly	Adam Price MP & Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM	Assembly Members	MODEL LETTER FOR MEMBERS	Public Leaflet	Click here to view the February 2007 branch healthcheck
Example of letter to Local Authority	Please click HERE to view the paper issued to all AMs & MPs outlining the case against the cuts and possible solutions.	Cambrian News Article	MODEL LETTER TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. CLICK HERE, DOWNLOAD, AND HELP SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT!	Customer service Questionnaire
Should any member be in doubt as to the future, click here to view a preview of an announcement regarding the future of BST in rural locations	The TRUE cost to the environment of the department's plans. Click here to view a spreadsheet detailing increased carbon emissions.	Bulletin to members issued 16th January 2007. Click here to view.	Please click here to view a discussion paper prepared by branch officers as regards the future of HMRC in Wales.	Please click here to view the written evidence submitted to the Welsh Affairs Committee. See the link on the homepage to view the oral evidence given.	Please click here to view the transcript of oral evidence given to the Welsh Affairs Select Committee.
Click here to view a paper submitted to PCS regarding the carbon footprint.	Click here to view the letter sent to all SW Wales MPs & AMs regarding the TEEL confusion	Click here to view a report in The Western Mail regarding customer service.