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Government re-shuffling - a new Dawn for HMRC?

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2nd Jul 2007
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Reviewing the list of the new cabinet and ministerial appointments made by Gordon Brown in his first few days as Prime Minister, the keen observer* will note that the office of “Paymaster General” has gone AWOL, in part, at least.

South Bristol MP, Dawn Primarolo, who has held the role since 1999 has been given the chop – she has moved to the department of health, and HMRC has literally awoken up to a “new dawn” without a rudder and MP spokesperson.

Within the re-shuffle, the post of "Paymaster General" appears to have been reduced to a part-timer; the only reference to it on the lists published on the No.10 website are in connection with the new “Minister for the Olympics and Minister for London (Paymaster General)” - an rather unpleasant cocktail of duties which has been handed out to Tessa Jowell MP.

HMRC's new official spokesperson is the Treasury Secretary Jane Kennedy MP for Liverpool. She has moved over from Work and Pensions and has had no previous exerience in the Treasury.

HMRC’s has not yet published its departmental accounts, its merger has been a painful experience and the ensuing job cuts have crippled front line moral. The Treasury select committee has pages of evidence that must make depressing reading for ministers. 2007 has been the year in which it became apparent that HMRC’s IT systems are still not robust, despite the numerous promises that they would be, and billions have yet to be recovered in overpaid tax credits, and many more are still being lost by fundamental flaws in the PAYE system.

*With thanks to Simon Sweetman for his observations.

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By User deleted
02nd Jul 2007 16:25

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The first Paymaster General under New Labour was one of several well dodgy geezer ministers forced to resign, the second an unprincipled hypocrite who was more than a sandwich or two short of a picnic.

Let us hope (for HMRC and us) it is third time lucky and that Jane Kennedy is intelligent, honest, dedicated and hardworking and that she gets the support she needs from No 11 as well as No 10.

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By User deleted
04th Jul 2007 10:53

Who is managing the banking?
According to the UK Gov website, "The Office of H M Paymaster General (OPG) is part of HM Revenue and Customs.

OPG's mission statement is:
To provide a secure, value for money account and banking transaction service, which encourages public sector bodies to maximise the value of funds available to the Exchequer, and to provide accurate and timely cash flow information to the Treasury."

So, by the looks of it, all our cash is now going to the Olympics?


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By carnmores
02nd Jul 2007 15:32

new dawn at health
knee cappings for all then

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By dgwsoft
02nd Jul 2007 16:00

Jane Kennedy to head up HMRC?

According to Accountancy Age:

http://www.accountancyage.com/accountancyage/news/2193227/darling-revamps-treasury-team

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