HMRC published a consultation document in June this year asking members of the public to comment on the equality issues that may arise from plans to reduce its office buildings in Ballymena, Banbridge, Coleraine, Craigavon, Enniskillen, Londonderry and Newry from 10 office buildings to five, retaining all Enquiry Centres in their current locality.

The Consultation Responses from the public to these proposals are now available.

The majority of comments from the respondent groups focused on the potential impacts of increased travel on work/life balance and the financial impacts of relocation. A number of respondents suggested the proposals may disadvantage staff from certain groups within the community. Many respondents said that the HMRC estate in Northern Ireland should have been reviewed as a whole as this would have shown a better commitment to the equality agenda and Section 75 (Northern Ireland Act 1998).

Full details of the report are available at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/local/equal-impact-assmts.htm