DUDLEY North MP Ian Austin has secured a debate in Parliament this week to discuss Government plans to close HMRC offices at The Waterfront, Brierley Hill, which could result in the loss of 250 jobs.

Staff at the tax credits office had been told they would be transferred to the Department for Work and Pensions to work on the introduction and implementation of Universal Credit; and in October they were told they would remain at The Waterfront working on the new benefit.

But in a shock u-turn staff have since been told the office is to close and their jobs are at risk.

Last Tuesday Labour MP Mr Austin met with Esther McVey, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, urging for a rethink on the closure and he has obtained a Parliamentary debate on the issue which is set to take place tomorrow (Wednesday) at 7pm.

He says he will be using the debate to call on ministers to look again at the decision, keep the Brierley Hill office open and ensure the skilled HMRC staff are used to assist with introducing Universal Credit.

The MP 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.

“These are hard-working and highly-skilled public servants. They are very worried about their future and we need to secure their jobs.

“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.”

When news of the potential job losses broke, a spokesman for HMRC stressed: "We will do everything we can to find alternative roles for our staff, as the tax credits work they do reduces in the years ahead."