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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. THESE HAVE NOW BEEN RELOCATED TO THE HMRC PAGE - CLICK ON THE LINK FROM THE FRONTPAGE.

                                                                                                       

  THE SHOCKING SCANDAL OF TAX DEBT IN THE UK
Click HERE to read a political briefing prepared advising politicians of the latest staggering scandal of HMRC's failure to tackle tax debt in the UK.

 

 

HMRC ARE THREATENING TO INVOKE MOBILITY CLAUSES TO HELP VACATE OFFICES UNDER THREAT OF CLOSURE. PCS CONTINUES TO RESIST THESE AT A LOCAL AND NATIONAL LEVEL. IN THE INTERIM, PLEASE CLICK ON THE MOBILITY & EQUALITY LINKS FOR ADVICE FROM THOMPSON'S SOLICITORS.

 

 

  PCS Lobby of Parliament 11th February 2009
Click HERE to read Kathy Bracy's report of a successful day in Westminster attempting to save our offices.

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

 

 

 

THE EFFECT OF THE CUTS ON DEBT MANAGEMENT - WHAT'S NEXT? READ ALL ABOUT THE GLUM FACES SAGA!

 

Click HERE to read a fascinating letter from a HMRC member working in Debt Management (Collection in old money) regarding the latest crazy scheme introduced to the department, very much on LEAN principles of working. This was sent to the member's constituency MP for a forthcoming Public Accounts Committee hearing into the matter. To read the uncorrected transcript, click HERE UPDATE 3RD FEBRUARY 2009. Click HERE to read the letter issued to Welsh politicians regarding barmy practices and cuts in Debt Management. YOU REALLY COULD NOT MAKE IT UP!!

 

Friday 13th February 2009 (unlucky for HMRC). See the links to BBC, Western Mail, and Evening Post for initial reaction to this nonsense in the press.

 

 

 

PCS has written to Pembrokeshire politicians regarding the potential future of Haverfordwest tax office. Click HERE to read this letter.

 

Click HERE to read the response sent to Paul Davies AM by HMRC. The branch has sent the following RESPONSE to Paul.

 

 

                          THE POLITICAL REACTION TO THE DECEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS                                                                                                                                 
Click HERE (part 1) and HERE (part 2) to see a glorious example of toeing the party line. This is a letter from Paul Murphy MP in response to PCS concerns regarding the carnage inflicted in Wales by HMRC. About as much use as a chocolate teapot. Of more use to members is the letter from Rhodri Morgan AM, and we will continue to actively explore moves to NAW for members in the coming weeks. IT WAS CONFIRMED TODAY (29TH JANUARY 2009) THAT WAG AND HMRC ARE ENGAGED IN HIGH LEVEL TALKS REGARDING A PROTOCOL TO ASSIST MOVEMENT OF POTENTIAL SURPLUS STAFF - THIS WILL SUPPLEMENT THE NATIONAL PROTOCOL.

 

 

 

 

THE TRUTH ABOUT THE MODERN SENIOR CIVIL SERVICE AND HMRC MANAGEMENT
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.

 

                                   OUR REACTION TO HMRC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Click HERE for the memo issued to all members on 4th December 2008. Guidance for members can be seen by viewing branch memos - see the HMRC page for details.

                                             

 

Click HERE for the official PCS reaction.

 

 

WE URGE ALL MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT VISITING THIS SITE TO NOTE THE BELOW.

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:

 

New EDM 176 - HMRC Offices in Wales

Mon, 8 December 2008 | House of Commons - Early Day Motion

 

Summary
EDM 176 was first put down on 8th December 2008 by Mark Williams
 

That this House expresses concern at the recently announced closure of nine HMRC offices across Wales, including the office at Aberystwyth, which was scheduled to stay open under the original proposals; believes that compliance staff in Aberystwyth have not been given the opportunity of fully responding to the consultation as they were unaware of the threat to their jobs; notes the importance of public sector employment at a time when many private sector jobs are being lost and acknowledges the Government's moratorium on Jobcentre Plus closures; and calls on the Government to postpone closures and staffing cuts until a full reassessment of the impact on local economies has been made, and staff who were not aware that they would lose their jobs have been able to respond to a further consultation.
 

On 8/12/08 it was signed by:
 

Mark Williams

 

It has since been signed by a total of 16 MPs - click HERE to view who has signed up. What about those of you who haven't?

 

 

          THE WELSH ASSEMBLY GOVERNMENT POSITION

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.

 

 

 

          POLITICAL SUPPORT

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.

 

 

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.

 

ALL MEMBERS MEMO              BRANCH SECRETARY'S MEMO                  LETTER FROM THE DEPARTMENT TO PCS

 

                        WHOOPS!!
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 AT THE TIME.

 

AND LASTLY................THE ARCHIVE SECTION

 

Meetings have now been held with Labour MPs, including Welsh Office Ministers. As a result, intense lobbying of the new Minister, Jane Kennedy MP, is taking place to ensure proper consultation to examine alternatives to the office closure approach by HMRC. See the latest Access Special for details (link here) . PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE PCS RESPONSE THAT WILL, HOPEFULLY, SAVE OUR OFFICES AND JOBS (pdf version HERE)

THE REVIEW TIMETABLE FOR OFFICES OUTSIDE OF URBAN CENTRES WILL COMMENCE IN FEBRUARY 2008 (THIS TIMETABLE IS NOW IN SOME DOUBT OWING TO THE DELAYS IN PUBLISHING THE RESULT OF THE URBAN CENTRE REVIEWS).                  

 

Click here to see the initial discussion paper for the 5th June meeting. Click here to see our first members briefing Click here to see a letter issued to Nick Ainger MP. Click here to see a letter issued to Nick Bourne AM Click here to see a letter issued to Ieuan Wyn Jones AM
Click here to see a media release on 22nd June 2007 Letter from a member of the public to Gordon Brown 25th September 2007 (identity kept anonymous) Letter from Nick Ainger MP 21st September 2007 Letter (1) from Rhodri Morgan AM. Click here for page two Click here to see a letter from Jane Kennedy, our Minister, to Nick Ainger MP.
        Political briefing 17th June 2008
         
         
         

Click here to see the discussion paper sent to all HMRC branches in Wales

Click here to see the joint statement issued by Rhodri Morgan & Nick Ainger

See tables below and at bottom for latest issues of Access and BEC minutes.

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

Photo of Madeleine Moon

 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.