Farron quizzes Treasury on Kendal HMRC office

3.00.00pm GMT Tue 6th Nov 2007

Local MP Tim Farron has today tabled a parliamentary question to the Chancellor of the Exchequer that it is hoped will help clarify the future of the HMRC office in Kendal. It has become clear that other areas are seeing a 'rationalisation' in HMRC offices, meaning that smaller offices are being amalgamated into bigger, regional offices. The office in Kendal is staffed by around 40 people, and those people could face having to move to Carlisle or Preston or lose their job completely.

Mr Farron has tabled a question which asks the Chancellor to detail the factors which are taken into account when undertaking such 'rationalisations'.

Tim Farron said:

"I know that in some regions smaller, local HMRC offices have been forced to close and the staff move to bigger towns.

"Equally, however, I know that some offices, such as the one in Harrogate have stayed open in order that the service is not moved too far from the consumer. I hope that in asking this question of the Chancellor we will clarify that moving the HMRC office in Kendal to Preston or Carlisle would be doing just that."