To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff have left HM Revenue and Customs under (a) Compulsory Early Retirement, (b) Flexible Early Retirement and (c) Approved Early Retirement since its formation in each of the last five years, broken down by grade. (115996)

The only early retirement scheme that has been in operation since the formation of HM Revenue and Customs is Approved Early Retirement. No staff have left under Compulsory Early Retirement or Flexible Early Retirement. The number of people who have retired under the scheme is 3,187. The breakdown by grade is given in the following table:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much HM Revenue and Customs and the Inland Revenue spent on outside business consultancy services in each of the last three years. (113760)

HM Revenue and Customs was introduced in April 2006 replacing the former separate departments of HM Customs and Excise and the Inland Revenue. The relevant figures for expenditure on consultancy services, excluding the Valuation Office Agency, are given in the following table:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what targets he sets for the duration of telephone calls to HM Revenue and Customs contact centres; and how many redialled calls there were to each contact centre in each of the last 12 months. (115860)

The Department does not set any formal national targets for the duration of telephone calls to HM Revenue and Customs contact centres.

For redialled calls, data are not maintained in the format requested.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the implementation phase of the HM Revenue and Customs regional review programme to begin for the Outer London cluster; and if he will make a statement. (114642)

HMRC is currently conducting a consultation exercise, which will end on 21 February, on its initial proposals for reducing its use of accommodation in outer London. Subject to ministerial approval decisions will be announced in the spring and implementation will begin in the summer, continuing through to 2010.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many of the headcount in the HM Revenue and Customs regional review programme for the Outer London cluster used are in each of the six areas which make up the cluster; and if he will make a statement; (114644)

Although HMRC offices within Outer London have been grouped into six areas, for most planning purposes Outer London is taken as a whole.

The total number of HMRC staff working in Outer London at 1 October 2006 was 4,374, with the numbers estimated to fall to 3,800 by 2008 and to 3,300 by 2010.

The proposed rationalisation of the HMRC estate in Outer London is estimated to create estate savings of approximately £5.7 million a year.