To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reasons HM Customs and Excise’s offices in (a) Bangor, (b) Bedford and (c) Doncaster were withdrawn from the Workforce Change programme. (273641)

[holding answer 8 May 2009]: The decisions to vacate HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) offices in Bangor, Bedford and Doncaster were among those announced in December 2008 at the conclusion of HMRC’s Workforce Change regional review programme to match HMRC’s estate to future business needs. Those decisions have not changed.

While HMRC has looked again at the timing of closures of a number of its offices in the light of budgetary constraints, the aim is still to close them in 2010-11. Full vacation of Ty Glyn, Bangor, and Weston House, Doncaster, originally expected by the end of 2009-10, has now been deferred until after 2009-10. The intention to vacate Portman House, Bedford, by spring 2011 remains unchanged.