Battle to save EK tax offices will continue
Holyrood’smessage
A Scottish Government minister says he has “deep concerns”over HMRC’s plan to close tax offices in East Kilbride.
Finance secretary Derek Mackay was quizzed by the town’s MSP Linda Fabiani at Holyrood following news that HMRC have signed a 25-year lease for new premises in Glasgow.
The Stay in EK campaign, led by the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union and supported by the News, has been fighting to stop 2700 staff moving out of East Kilbride to a regional centre by 2026.
Additionally, the Plaza Tower branch is due to close its doors by 2021.
Mr Mackay said: “The power to collect and manage taxes raised in Scotland remains reserved to the United Kingdom Parliament, and that includes decisions about HMRC office locations.
“The Scottish Government is clear that those powers should be devolved to the Scottish Parliament and that decisions about tax should be founded on close engagement with the taxpayer community in Scotland and on consideration of best practice from elsewhere.
“The Scottish Government is also clear that it has deep concerns over HMRC’s transformation programme, not least over its potential negative impacts on local communities, including East Kilbride.”
Mr Mackay insists “dialogue” would continue with Westminster regarding the proposal which, if executed, would have a devastating impact on the economy of East Kilbride and the wider area of South Lanarkshire.
He added: “I will continue to take forward concerns and to raise these matters with counterparts in the UK Government.”
Visit www.ipetitions.com/ petition/stayinek to oppose the tax offices closure plan.