Treasury written question – answered at on 26 March 2024.
Catherine West
Shadow Minister (Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs)
To ask the Chancellor of the exchequer, whether his Department has made an equality impact assessment of the decision to close the HMRC helpline between April and September each year.
Nigel Huddleston
The Financial Secretary to the Treasury
HMRC conducted a full Equalities Impact Assessment regarding the planned closure of the Self Assessment helpline between 8 April and 30 September 2024. However, HMRC has halted this plan while it engages with stakeholders about how to ensure all taxpayers’ needs are met as the Department shifts more people to online self-service.
The chancellor of the exchequer is the government's chief financial minister and as such is responsible for raising government revenue through taxation or borrowing and for controlling overall government spending.
The chancellor's plans for the economy are delivered to the House of Commons every year in the Budget speech.
The chancellor is the most senior figure at the Treasury, even though the prime minister holds an additional title of 'First Lord of the Treasury'. He normally resides at Number 11 Downing Street.
