Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will take steps to ensure that HM Revenue and Customs staff based in Northern Ireland are currently working on personal taxation matters who are scheduled to be offered voluntary redundancy terms will be given the opportunity of being redeployed to benefits and credits employment.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has not offered any voluntary redundancies in Northern Ireland in the current financial year. However, this cannot be ruled out in the future if redeployment options cannot be found for staff in need of new roles. HMRC will work to redeploy these people to other business areas within the Department and across the wider Civil Service.

Personal Tax (PT) staff in Londonderry and Enniskillen entered HMRC's Redeployment Pool in early June. People in the Redeployment Pool have priority status when applying for roles on level transfer across HMRC and the wider Civil Service, maximising their opportunity for a new job at their current grade.

Additionally, people working in Enquiry Centres in PT across the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland, who have not secured a role in the new service have also entered the Redeployment Pool.

Custom House, Newry, is primarily a PT site. None of HMRC's lines of business intend to retain a presence there, and HMRC is in consultation on a proposed closure date for the office in 2015. Staff at Newry have been given the opportunity to enter the Redeployment Pool in advance of the outcome of the consultation due to be announced in September. Whilst these people are in the pool, HMRC will do all it can to redeploy them within the department or to help them find jobs elsewhere in the Civil Service.