Dundee has been dealt a jobs blow with the announcement that HM Revenue and Customs is to close both its offices in the city.
Around 130 jobs will go when the Caledonia House in Greenmarket office will close in 2017/18.
The base at Sidlaw House at the Technology Park employs 650 people – those roles will be transferred to the Department of Work and Pensions.
A total of 137 offices will be closed around the country as part of a modernisation programme.
Lin Homer, HMRC’s chief executive, said: “HMRC is committed to modern, regional centres serving every region and nation in the UK, with skilled and varied jobs and development opportunities, while also ensuring jobs are spread throughout the UK and not concentrated in the capital.
“HMRC has too many expensive, isolated and outdated offices. This makes it difficult for us to collaborate, modernise our ways of working, and make the changes we need to transform our service to customers and clamp down further on the minority who try to cheat the system.
“The new regional centres will bring our staff together in more modern and cost-effective buildings in areas with lower rents. They will also make a big contribution to the cities where they are based, providing high-quality, skilled jobs and supporting the Government’s commitment for a national recovery that benefits all parts of the UK.”
We’ll have full reaction to this in tonight’s Evening Telegraph.