Tax officers stage walk out

Thousands of security cleared tax officers staged a walkout yesterday amid fears that certain HM Revenues and Customs (HMRC) services could be privatised.

According to the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union, 20,000 members of staff in call centres and enquiry offices were due to hold two 30-minute stoppages on Monday, July 15th, with a further set of strikes also scheduled for January 31st.

These are in response to year-long private sector firms Sitel and Teleperformance being given year-long trials, starting next month, to handle calls in HMRC tax credit contact centres in Cumbria and Scotland.

Its general secretary Mark Serwotka asserted: "Instead of privatising ever more of our public services, the government should be investing in its own staff to ensure they are equipped and trained to provide the essential services they are proud to deliver."

Last year, the Treasury Select Committee of MPs published a report warning of public disgruntlement over difficulties contacting HMRC and warned the department to ensure that shedding security check cleared staff does not impair its ability to implement key reforms.