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Rt. Hon. Sir Alan Beith MPLiberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Berwick Upon TweedWorking for you and the Berwick upon Tweed Constituency all year roundin Northumberland and in Westminster |
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"New Tax Office hours "simply not good enough" - Beith
March 16, 2010 12:00 AM
Sir Alan Beith MP has condemned the announcement that opening hours for public enquiries at Alnwick Tax Office are to be cut by 80%. From Thursday 22 March 2010, the Tax Office will only be open to members of the public between 10am and 3pm on Thursdays - a massive shift from the present daily opening times.
Sir Alan said
"Although HM Revenue and Customs has said the majority of enquiries can be dealt with by telephone or over the internet, for many people tax is a frightening subject and that face-to-face contact is invaluable when trying to sort out a problem.
"The new opening hours will make it much harder for people to get that face-to-face contact, especially if they have other commitments on a Thursday.
"This is simply not good enough and I have taken this up with the Minister as a matter of urgency."
HM Revenue and Customs has previously announced that the Tax Office in Alnwick is to close and that the work will be transferred elsewhere, although a commitment has been made that face-to-face tax advice will still be available in the town. Sir Alan added:
"Alnwick, along with 129 other towns, is ultimately to lose its Tax Office and the loss of jobs like these in small communities is a bitter blow and a bad policy.
"The Minister claims that face-to-face advice for taxpayers will still be available in Alnwick but has given no indication yet of how this is to be done."
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