TAX OFFICE U-TURN ● On the move:
SITE STILL CLOSING BUT WELSH LANGUAGE SERVICE AND 17 JOBS ARE SAVED
A DECISION to axe the country’s only Welsh-language tax office has been reversed – saving 17 jobs.
The move comes two years after Her Majesty’s Revenue andnd Customs (HMRC) announced it would shut the office at Tŷ Moelwyn,lwyn, Porthmadog, in 2020.
A petition calling on thehe Government to change itss mind was signed by hundreds of people, and yesterday it was announced the Welsh language service will remain.
The Tŷ Moelwyn sitee will actually close earlyy ● ‘Pressure:’ Liz next year, but staff will be Saville Roberts moved half a mile across the town to Thedford House, ouse, which is already used by the Department of Work and d Pensions (DWP).
HMRC director general of customer services, Rachel McLean, said: “This move is vital to the success of our plans to continue to provide Welsh-language customer services from Porthmadog.
“It will also allow us to explore how we might develop those services with both DWP and other government departments in the future.”
Plaid Cymru MP Liz Saville Rob- erts,erts one of those to hav eh foughtfhtt to keep the Welsh-language service open, said the decision is “testament to the determination and perseverance” of local campaigners, particularly Porthmadog Town Council.
“A collaborative effort was mounted to exert pressure on the Government to reconsider its decision to move Welsh-language call centre jobs from the area,” she added.
“A petition was launched, count-
less letters were written, public meetingsmeeti were held and I raised the matter several times with the Governmenternme on the floor of the House of Commons.C
“The DWP office in Porthmadog is perfectly suited to house HMRC staff and is an excellent Welsh-language workplace, ideally placed to attract and retain experienced Welsh speakers in the area where Welsh is both a community and professional language.
“I’m pleased the Government has responded positively to the concerns of local people and recognised the importance of retaining well- paid public sector jobs in a low wage economy such as that of Dwyfor Meirionnydd.”
Aberconwy MP and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales, Guto Bebb, said he is “delighted” by the U-turn, adding: “Several UK Government departments in Wales have worked hard to make this happen and it shows what we can achieve when we work together to reach a joint solution.
“This demonstrates the UK Government’s commitment to the Welsh language and to ensuring that we maximise the benefits that come from co-locating Government offic- es to provide the best possible service for the taxpayer.”
He added: “It’s good news for Porthmadog and a vote of confidence that work like this can be provided in rural areas. Jobs like this don’t grow on trees.”
Porthmadog Town Council chairman Simon Brooks said the news has left him “on cloud nine”. He added: “It is something which people in Porthmadog have fought very hard for since the announcement was made two years ago it was closing. We’re absolutely ecstatic that we are keeping the jobs which in this area are very scarce.”