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<p>Officials meet regularly with stakeholders to discuss a wide range of matters,
including HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC’s) regional transformation plans. In addition,
Ministers have discussed this issue with elected representatives.</p><p>The decision
to move to regional centres is part of the wider Government strategy to develop Government
hubs. For HMRC this includes consolidating 170 offices, many ageing and in poor condition,
across the UK into thirteen new regional centres, four specialist sites and a base
at 100 Parliament Street. This will help to maximise flexibility, collaboration and
customer service while reducing costs to the taxpayer.</p><p>HMRC’s internal management
information indicates that the vast majority of staff in West Lothian will be within
reasonable travelling distance of the Regional Centre. HMRC will conduct one to one
meetings with staff about a year in advance of the move to discuss their personal
circumstances, whether or not they can move and what more can be done to support them.
One to one meetings are held at this time to ensure that the most up to date information
on the specific location of the Regional Centre is available to allow decisions to
be made.</p><p>HMRC will support staff moving to the new Regional Centre by helping
them with a contribution to additional travel costs, for three years for staff within
reasonable daily travel and five years for those who live outside reasonable daily
travel, after the move. For any staff who are unable to move, HMRC will look at redeployment
options. This will include helping staff to find another role within the Department,
or if necessary in other government departments. It is HMRC’s desire to retain as
many existing staff as possible within the Department. Exit packages will only be
considered when it is established that moving office or redeployment is not an option.</p><p>HMRC
expects that travel support for staff moving to Edinburgh from Bathgate and Livingstone
will cost approximately £2 million over a five year period. The estimated exit costs
are expected to be approximately £1.45 million.</p><p> </p>
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