Alan Reid MP to fight proposals to close all three Argyll tax offices

The merger of the Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise into HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has led to a proposal to cut and amalgamate services, using call centres in support. This plan calls for the closure of all three of Argyll’s tax offices – at Oban, Rothesay and Dunoon. In making it known that he will fight these proposals, Alan Reid, Westminster MP for Argyll and Bute, points out that the loss of all three tax offices would compel his constituents to travel a very long distance to discuss their tax affairs in person with an inspector. Argyll is the second largest local authority in Scotland – after Highland. It has the third most dispersed population – after Highland and Eilean Siar. Alan Reid could well add ‘time’ and ‘cost’ to his identification of ‘distance’ as a major impact on his constituents in travelling to a tax office should these proposals become fact. The consultation period ends in August.