MP joins in tax office fight

During a debate in the House of Commons about potential changes to Income Tax he highlighted the difficulty in implementing those changes if tax offices in rural areas were to be shut down.

Mr Opik said: "I want to highlight the fact that, although changes might be welcome, one of the problems in implementing them is the possible closure of regional tax offices such as those in Welshpool and other outlying areas.

"Does the minister accept there is a contradiction bet-ween passing potentially beneficial changes to the tax regulations and removing the direct contact through local tax offices that would ensure their smooth application?"

But John Healey, Treasury finance secretary, replied: "With respect, that is not the issue we are debating."

Speaking afterwards, Mr Opik said: "I met the staff in the Welshpool Tax Office on Monday. They were able to take me through the facts, which make it absolutely clear how important these offices are to ensure the smooth collection of tax.

"Indeed, they also pointed out that the existing larger tax offices, such as Wrexham, can't even keep up with their existing workload and Welshpool find themselves helping to clear backlogs."

He added: "It's not just about the 'front office' either. The backroom staff are a vital local component and I think it is short-sighted in the extreme to close down the local service at a time when the very places the work would be moved to can't even cope with what they've currently got."