Fresh threat to Customs jobs across Merseyside

Nov 17 2006 By Ian Hernon Daily Post Correspondent

THOUSANDS of Revenue and Customs jobs across Merseyside are under renewed threat.

The Government yesterday launched a national review of the network's offices to deliver up to 12,000 job cuts and deliver £30m savings by 2008.

And the city region is one of 25 "urban areas" which will be targeted for cutbacks.

Revenue and Customs employ 6,100 people spread across eight offices in Liverpool, three in Birkenhead, two in Bootle and one in St Helens, plus one in Chester and another in Widnes.

Nationally the service is already half-way through an earlier round of closures which will see 12,500 jobs go following the merger of HM Revenue and HM Customs and Excise.

The Public and Commercial Services union predicted 200 offices face the axe across the country

The union's general secretary, Mark Serwotka, said: "It is foolhardy in the extreme to think that cutting more jobs and closing more offices will improve service levels."

An HMRC spokesman stressed: "No decisions have yet been made and there will be a full and comprehensive consultation exercise but Merseyside is one of the areas where office and staffing numbers will be scrutinised."

Paul Gray, acting chairman of the department, said last year's merger between the Customs and Inland Revenue departments had provided opportunities to meet Government targets of reducing staff by 12,500 and cutting costs by £30m by 2008.