11:03am Thursday 18th March 2010
MORE than 150 workers at three doomed tax offices continue to be supported by the Government, a minister has said.
The staff, at HM Revenue and Customs offices in Burnley, Accrington and Chorley, were told in January they were surplus to requirements and could apply for compulsory redundancy or take a job in Liverpool or Manchester.
Union bosses blasted the closures, which were part of a review, saying they would hit low-paid workers who could not afford to take jobs outside East Lancashire.
However, Treasury minister Stephen Timms said: “Managers will hold individual discussions with all staff who choose not to accept the offer to leave to help them find redeployment opportunities within HMRC or the wider civil service.
“HMRC will continue to provide regular updates for staff on its intranet site and through five regional support teams, with representatives from business units across HMRC. ”
Mr Timms was responding to a written question from Chorley MP Lindsay Hoyle.
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