To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will break down by subheading the effect on costs of the restructuring of the Welshpool HM Revenue and Customs office; and if he will make a statement. (183305)

The Welshpool office has not yet been reviewed.

More generally, HM Revenue and Customs is restructuring all its business operations in order to provide a better service at a lower cost to the taxpayer. Most of its business units can work more efficiently by consolidating in a smaller number of offices. The cost savings, to the Department as a whole, from that increased efficiency, cannot realistically be apportioned to any one office.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the staff in the HM Revenue and Customs office in Welshpool to be informed of the future status of and plans for that office; and if he will make a statement. (183310)

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has too much office space and has been engaged in a review programme to decide which offices best suit its future business needs and should therefore be retained.

The programme has been paused while HMRC considers how best to take forward the recommendations of the capability review of the Department published in December. When it resumes, all staff will be notified of the revised timetable for their office reviews including consultation.