Alan Reid was speaking in a debate on the contents of an HM Revenue and Customs consultation document, which proposes shutting 19 tax offices across Scotland, including those in Rothesay, Oban and Dunoon - the only three tax offices in Argyll and But
e.
Mr Reid told the House: "The Rothesay office, which has seven staff, employed 16 just five years ago, and the Dunoon office, which employs 14 staff, has seen similar losses, so my constituency has already seen substantial job losses without consultation.
"People who are made redundant will struggle to find jobs locally that require the same skills, and the job opportunities will be lost to the community for ever.
"As well as the direct loss of jobs, there will be a loss of purchasing power, with a knock-on effect for other local businesses.
"This is the start of the consultation stage. I hope that the Government and HMRC will listen to the comments that I and other local people will be making, and that they will reflect on the matter during the consultation period and withdraw the proposals to close these offices."
In response Jane Kennedy MP, financial secretary to the Treasury, said: "I will take what the hon. Gentleman said today very seriously and respond in due course."
The full article contains 272 words and appears in The Buteman newspaper.
