Cumbernauld’s HMRC tax office site ‘secure for next decade’

For months, uncertainty has surrounded the 1500 staff at the HMRC tax office, amidst rumours of redundancies and transfers to other centres.

The area’s Labour MP, Gregg McClymont, has been chasing assurances over the government’s plans for HMRC in Cumbernauld for months and recently met with Scottish Secretary Michael Moore to discuss the issue.

Gregg was recently contacted by treasury minister David Gauke, who said: “The office in Cumbernauld is included within the areas where HMRC will retain a presence until at least 2020. There are therefore no plans to vacate the building between now and 2020.”

He also said that staffing at Cumbernauld would drop slightly by 2015, though it is hoped this can be covered by natural wastage.

Gregg McClyont said: “It is very good news that the government have confirmed the Cumbernauld site is secure for at least 10 years. However, I will continue to press for clarity on what a ‘slight decline’ in jobs actually means in numbers terms. Lingering uncertainty is damaging to staff confidence and impacts upon the service received by tax payers. We need further answers.”

HMRC Cumbernauld employee David Watts added: “I remain concerned that the number of staff is expected to drop.”