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 who are scheduled to face voluntary redundancy in the current financial year will be considered for redeployment to work in the Passport Office.

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. Civil Service departments will work together to do all they can to redeploy staff who have formally been declared surplus.

Personal Tax 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 across the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland, who have not secured a role in the new service have also entered the Redeployment Pool.

None of HMRC's lines of business intend to remain in Custom House, Newry, 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.