To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what representations he has received since January 2008 from Southend-on-Sea Borough Council on staffing levels in HM Revenue and Customs offices in Southend; what plans he has to meet representatives from the council to discuss this issue; and if he will make a statement; (222288)

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answers the former Financial Secretary my right hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Wavertree (Jane Kennedy) gave on 16 June 2008, Official Report, columns 692-93. I have no current plans to meet representatives from Southend council.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the (a) costs and (b) projected savings are expected to be of the Estates Consolidation Programme of HM Revenue and Customs in the Southend urban area; what recent representations he has received about this programme; what response was given; and if he will make a statement. (222365)

The Estates Consolidation Programme (ECP) is a five-year undertaking designed to deliver £250 million cumulative accommodation running cost savings by releasing surplus accommodation across the HMRC estate. Accommodation is chosen for retention or vacation in conjunction with HMRC’s Workforce Change Programme, which aims to ensure that the offices retained are those best suited to the Department’s long-term business needs.

The overall projected estates savings for the Eastern England region in the period 2007-08 to 2011-12 are estimated at around £25.9 million. The overall costs associated with delivering those changes over the same period are estimated at around £10.7 million. For reasons of commercial confidentiality, more specific figures cannot be made available.

Treasury Ministers and officials receive representations from a wide range of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government’s practice to provide details of all such representations.