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Government 'trying to move jobs out of Highlands'

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Published Date: 30 January 2007
UNIONS claimed yesterday that the government was trying to move civil service jobs from the Highlands to Edinburgh - despite an Executive policy of relocating jobs out of the Central Belt.
The Public and Commercial Services Union warned that tax office jobs were being moved out of Inverness and taken to Edinburgh, against official policy, and called for the plans to be halted.

A spokesman for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs admitted that jobs were being lost from Inverness over time, but he denied any suggestion that workers would have to move south.

The forced transfer of the Scottish Natural Heritage base from the capital to Inverness caused an angry controversy for the Executive over its relocation policy. Ministers defended the policy, saying it was of benefit to the Highlands, despite an estimated cost of £27 million.

But now unions claim the UK government's drive to reduce civil service numbers will see tax jobs in Inverness transferred to Edinburgh or Glasgow by the tax service.

There are 119 tax staff working in Inverness, a total which is due to shrink to 70 by 2010. A spokesman for HMRC said most of these jobs would go through natural wastage, but some of the work would go to other offices, including Edinburgh.



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  • Last Updated: 30 January 2007 12:49 AM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Public bodies relocation
 
1

Pete39,

Tassy 30/01/2007 06:36:06

One of those weird departmental decisions that at times are hard to understand. It is difficult to come up with any comment that would encourage a discussion on this matter. However one idea comes to mind based on a game we used to play as kids. If the civil servants are circulating throughout Scotland, when the music stops and they do not have a chair and desk, are they made redundant. Naw, they wouldn't do that, I mean that is frivolous and politicians are supposed to be serious.

2

why can't I use my own name???,

30/01/2007 09:22:01

I love Civil Service terminology!

'Natural wastage'? How about a wee bit of 'Secondment', instead? Or a 'moratorium' on recruitment? Failing that, how about having them all just 'Hived off'??

3

GP,

30/01/2007 09:55:42

Given that Ayrshire (we are told) has the highest level of unemployment in scotland, why is it not the centre for public sector jobs?
Why are they being moved to place such as glasgow, coatbridge, bathgate, falkirk from edinburgh.
Makes no sense unless they are being moved for political reasons and not unemployment reduction measures. This means that we are not only being lied to but also being lied to by selfish people.

4

LeithWalker,

30/01/2007 10:52:35

A wee point for the PCS and the Scotsman. The removal or shifting of revenue and customs jobs is the responsibility of Westminster and not the Scottish Executive. Labour-led Exec are pure pish but this one isn`t their fault.

5

Kenmac,

Oban 30/01/2007 16:25:43

#4
I doubt if anything about the Executive is pure


 

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