WIREDGOV

ARC has welcomed MPs across the House voicing grave concerns about the cuts being imposed on HM Revenue and Customs during an Estimates Day debate in Parliament on 2 March. ARC (the Association of Revenue and Customs) is the union representing senior HMRC staff and is also a part of the FDA.

Graham Black, ARC President, said: "It is pleasing that so many MPs are voicing precisely the concerns that ARC has raised in its Defeat the Deficit campaign, launched last September. The MPs recognised the inevitable effect the cuts will have on HMRC's ability to close the tax gap and ensure that those seeking to avoid and evade do not escape the net and pay their fair share.

"We see the economics of the madhouse in the Coalition Government's approach to HMRC. It accepts that £7 billion can be raised for a modest investment of £900m yet piles a further £2 billion of cuts on top of those suffered since 2005. It accepts that every tax professional can generate many times their salaries in additional revenue, yet seeks to cut a further 11,500 staff over the next four years. It recognises the dangerously low levels of staff moral, yet refuses to invest in its people and skills.

"ARC believes there is a fairer way to cut the deficit: collect the tax that is due by tackling tax cheats rather than cutting public expenditure or raising taxes."

Notes for editors

1.The Association of Revenue and Customs (ARC) is a union representing senior staff in HM Revenue and Customs, including tax inspectors, accountants, lawyers, managers and other leading professionals. ARC represents around 2,600 members in HMRC at grade 7 and above, and also trainees in grade 7 entry schemes. It is also a section of the FDA.

2. The FDA is the trade union and professional body representing 18,000 of the UK's senior civil and public servants. Our members include policy advisors, senior managers, tax inspectors, economists, statisticians, accountants, special advisers, government lawyers, diplomats, crown prosecutors and NHS managers.

3. The FDA (formerly the First Division Association) should be referred to simply as "The FDA" and can be described as "the senior public servants' union".

4. Graham Black, ARC President, is available for comment.

5. For further information contact:

• Graham Black, ARC President, tel: 020 7401 5559 or 07766 497976
• Debbie Stamper, ARC officer, tel: 020 7401 5555
• Graham Flew, ARC officer, tel: 020 7401 5555.