TWO MPs have secured a Government promise to review the future of a closure-threatened tax office.
Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Simon Clarke joined Stockton South MP Paul Williams in meeting Treasury Secretary Mel Stride for talks to try to save the HMRC office at George Stephenson House in Thornaby from shutting in 2021.
The minister instructed officials to review the decision and to report back.
Mr Clarke described this as “important and welcome”, although “significant obstacles” remained to a breakthrough.
George Stephenson House employs 430 staff, but numbers will swell to about 600 when offices in Middlesbrough close and their staff move across.
HMRC wants to centralise regional operations in Newcastle, but many Teesside-based staff will find the commute impossible and as a result are likely to leave their jobs.
Gordon Rowntree, a PCS union branch secretary, said: “HMRC have been indifferent when asked to change their plans so this is a little glimmer of hope.”
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