WIREDGOV

Responding to yesterday's Autumn Statement, the Association of Revenue and Customs (ARC) welcomed the Chancellor's move to one fiscal event.

ARC President Vicky Johnson said: "We hope this move will allow hard-working policy colleagues to focus on the core business of HMRC.

"Policy staff are under immense pressure and any change which removes some of that pressure will help HMRC deliver its main function, which is to collect the right amount of tax at the right time."

ARC also welcomes measures announced to promote fairness in the tax system and the promise of further investment in HMRC, along with the desire for HMRC to increase capacity to improve customer service and provide support to struggling business by developing its ability to identify emerging insolvency risk.

Johnson added: "These measures ensure everyone plays by the same rules, but in order to deliver the increased sanctions and deterrents - and take the promised action on disguised remuneration tax avoidance schemes - ARC urges the Government to ensure HMRC has the resource to achieve its aims.

"The delivery of these policies requires a properly resourced HMRC, including fair and equitable remuneration to recruit and retain the skilled tax professionals needed to achieve a fair system in which everyone pays their share towards the funding of public services."

She stressed "the need for proper resourcing and retention of skilled tax professionals to undertake this work. Staff numbers are decreasing during the next few years and retention of the right people is vital if these measures are to succeed."

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 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. For further information contact:

• Kay Hender, Communications Manager, tel: 020 7401 5589 or 07980 700747.