Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans his Department has to close (a) the Royal Mint Advisory Committee office in Llantrisant, Pontyclun, (b) the Valuation Office Agency on High Street, Bangor, (c) the Valuation Office Agency at Picton Terrace, Carmarthen, (d) the Valuation Office on Regent Street, Rexham, (e) the Valuation Office Agency at Chepstow Road, Newport, (f) the Valuation Office Agency on High Street, Swansea, (g) the Valuation Office Agency on Churton Road, Rhyl, (h) the Valuation Office Agency on Castle Street, Merthyr Tydfil, (i) the Valuation Office Agency on Ty Glas Road, Cardiff, (j) the Inland Revenue Office at 27 Westgate Street, Cardiff, (k) the HMRC office on Stepney Street, Llanelli, (l) the HMRC office on Britannia Terrace, Porthmadog and (m) the HMRC office on Ellice Way, Wrexham.

1. HM Treasury have confirmed that the Royal Mint Advisory Committee have no plans to close the office in Llantrisant, Pontyclun.

2. The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) office on High Street, Bangor is due to close in 2020-21.

3. The VOA office at Picton Terrace, Carmarthen is due to close in October 2019.

4. Wrexham is a long-term location for the VOA.

5. The VOA office on Cheapstow Road, Newport closed in January 2017.

6. Swansea is a long-term location for the VOA.

7. The VOA office on Churton Road, Rhyl is due to close in October 2019.

8. The VOA office on Castle Street, Merthyr Tydfil closed in March 2016.

9. The VOA is currently located on Ty Glas Road, Cardiff. They intend to remain in Cardiff, and plan to relocate into the Cardiff Government hub, co-located with HMRC during 2020-2021.

10. Whilst there was an Inland Revenue Office at 27 Westgate Street, Cardiff, HMRC do not hold records of when this office closed.

11. The HMRC office on Stepney Street, Llanelli closed in 2014-2015.

12. The HMRC office on Britannia Terrace, Porthmadog closed in May 2018.

13. HMRC will continue to occupy the office on Ellice Way, Wrexham until 2020-2021.

    The VOA’s estates programme aligns to the wider Government Estate Strategy, and in the future VOA offices will often be based in Government Hubs, enabling closer working with other government departments. The intention is for the VOA's estates strategy to balance affordability, geographical coverage and allow more efficient and digital ways of working. As office space is reduced, the VOA will seek, where possible, to retain people and their skills in the Agency.