Tax Credits: Concentrix Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Tax Credits: Concentrix

Kevin Foster Excerpts
Wednesday 14th September 2016

(8 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Jane Ellison Portrait Jane Ellison
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To reiterate what I said earlier, I will ask HMRC to advise me on the nature of the contractual arrangements. Again, it might be better if I wrote to the hon. Gentleman on that.

Kevin Foster Portrait Kevin Foster (Torbay) (Con)
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As a constituency MP who has dealt with a number of cases, I am pleased to note the action the Government have taken. That said, as a member of the Public Accounts Committee I have also sat through numerous reports on the quality of service HMRC provides, which is at times hardly of gold standard. What reassurance does the Minister have that, with HMRC picking up some of this work, we will not see a drop-off in the standard of services elsewhere and in future arrangements?

Jane Ellison Portrait Jane Ellison
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I do not believe that that will be the case. HMRC has been dealing with cases at the same time as Concentrix throughout the period of the contract. I have been assured that the 150 additional staff deployed with immediate effect will be focused on this. I have no reason to believe that any other services will suffer. My hon. Friend’s point is well made and will be re-emphasised to HMRC.