Dudley North MP Ian Austin has secured a debate in Parliament this week over the plans to close HMRC offices in Dudley, putting 250 jobs at risk.

Staff employed at the HMRC’s tax credits office at the Waterfront in Brierley Hill had been told they would be transferred to the Department for Work and Pensions to work on the introduction and implementation of Universal Credit.

In October, they were told they would remain at the Waterfront Offices working on the new benefit, but in a shock U-turn staff were told their jobs were at risk and the office would close.

On Tuesday Austin met with Esther McVey, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, to urge a rethink on the closure and has obtained a Parliamentary debate on the issue on Wednesday evening at 7.00pm. Ian Austin said:

“This decision came as a huge shock to staff and I am doing all I can to get the Government to rethink this decision. It’s my job to stand up for local people which is why I have secured this debate and will be demanding ministers think again.

“Last year the government made the Waterfront an Enterprise Zone but now they’re planning to close the office, and just weeks ago the highly-skilled staff at HMRC were told they would be working on the introduction of Universal Credit but now they’ve been told their jobs are at risk.”

Mr Austin will be using the debate to call on ministers to look again at the decision, keep the Brierley Hill offices open and ensure the highly-skilled HMRC staff are used to assist with introducing Universal Credit.