OUTSOURCING OF INLAND REVENUE'S DISTRAINT WORK

Early day motion 867, tabled 14 February 2002 by Gwyn Prosser (Labour). Signed by 33 members.

That this House is concerned by the decision by the Board of Inland Revenue to outsource Distraint, the legal process which allows the Inland Revenue to seize a taxpayer's possessions in order to settle a debt owed to the private sector, allowing the work, currently carried out by members of the Inland Revenue to be outsourced to private bailiffs; believes that this proposed change is wrong as it will be detrimental to the customer service provided by members of the Department, a customer service the private sector will not be able to equal as currently Inland Revenue staff are able to provide customers with information and advice regarding their responsibilities under law and can negotiate time to pay even at the final point of distraint; and further believes that if this work is outsourced it will severely reduce the service that the public has a right to expect.

Signatures by party: Labour 21, Liberal Democrat 7, Labour/Co-operative 4, Plaid Cymru 1.