HER MAJESTY'S REVENUE AND CUSTOMS

Early day motion 458, tabled 4 December 2007 by Julia Goldsworthy (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 18 members.

That this House notes with serious concern the continuing threat to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) offices and jobs in Cornwall; believes that closure of HMRC offices will have an adverse impact on local communities and vulnerable individuals; notes the efforts of HMRC staff to reduce fraud in the tax system; believes that reducing staff numbers will cause more fraud to go undetected, proving the reduction to be a false economy; further notes the loss of 25 million people's personal data; condemns the Government for describing massive systemic failure as junior official error; believes that the recent data loss crisis will result in an increase in child benefit enquiries, as well as additional security checks; further believes that, given this latest incident, it is entirely inappropriate for the Government to put more pressure on staff by continuing with job cuts and office closures; and calls upon the Government to reassess and reconsider its proposals in this light.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 15, Labour 2, DUP 1.