Stop the Staff Cuts

Taxation is launching a campaign this week to stop the next round of staff cuts proposed for HMRC.

The loss of the two discs containing child benefit data has focussed attention on the service failures within the department but as our readers well know it is only the most spectacular example of a serious deterioration in service for taxpayers and their agents.

Staff at HMRC are under tremendous strain and - despite improvements in some areas - the system is simply not delivering the service that it needs to.

The last round of staff cuts - and the consequent reorganisations - have led to low morale and job dissatisfaction within the department as evidenced by reviews carried out by the unions.

To propose a further cut in staff probably amounting to a further 12 500 posts between now and 2011 flies in the face...