Taxing questions for revenue staff

Until retirement I was general secretary of the Inland Revenue Staff Federation (now part of the Public and Commercial Services Union). Etched in my memory is the setting up of East Kilbride Tax Centre which, inter alia, involved the reduction in staff in every Tax Office in Scotland (the closure of some) and the movement and housing of those transferred to East Kilbride.

In a little over two weeks’ time, every revenue man and woman, indeed every UK civil servant in Scotland, is faced with a decision, the result of which may be life changing for them and their families.

If they vote, as l hope they will, they will have to make this choice without a scintilla of the information critical to them in making their decision, for example:

1 Will there be a job for me – most probably yes – but will it be what I do now, with the same pay and conditions? Will it call for a transfer within Scotland? If so, on what terms?

2 Will my pension be guaranteed in full? If yes, by whom?

3 Will career opportunities match those currently available?

4 Will there at the outset be an opportunity to transfer to the UK if I wish? If so on what terms?

Revenue staff in particular (though there may well be others similarly affected) know there are to be different tax systems in Scotland. What is this likely to mean for them now and in the future?

Some will cast their vote on 18 September for loftier reasons, but these serious personal issues remain unanswered questions, and may well do so for quite a long time.

Indeed, from what we understand about further devolution these staff issues for civil servants will arise again even if the referendum outcome is No.

The difference, I believe, will be that the form and scale of new tax systems in Scotland will be constrained by the interests of the whole of the UK, not least from the risks of creating a home-grown tax haven.

The Lord 
Christopher CBE

House of Lords

London