FDA: Union leader calls for increased resources to counter tax evasion

Terry Cook - the newly appointed President of the Association of Revenue and Customs (ARC) - has today called for increased resources to counter the threat of highly experienced staff being lost to the private sector and to enhance the counter tax evasion work of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). ARC is the union representing senior managers and professionals in HM Revenue and Customs.

Cook, who will serve a two-year term until May 2010, said:

"ARC members expect HMRC to invest in improving their training and development, their working environment and their terms and conditions of service, including providing a fair pay award in 2008 which recognises the vital importance to the UK of the work they do. A failure to deliver on pay could have a significant impact on morale and lead to the loss of highly experienced staff to the private sector. Ultimately, this could negatively impact on the tax yield and would amount to a false economy.

"ARC members believe that there is a strong case for increased resources for HMRC to counter tax evasion and avoidance in all its forms.

"ARC is keen to work with senior managers to restore the reputation of HMRC following the data loss in November last year and to fulfil the challenging compliance, customer service and financial objectives that we have been given by ministers."

Cook joined the public service in 1981 as a tax inspector, having completed a PhD on 18th-century English literature and philosophy at Manchester University. Since then he has held a wide range of posts in HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), covering casework, technical advice, policy and local office management. He was also a member of the Inland Revenue team which won the first series of BBC Two's University Challenge – the Professionals in 2003.

Cook will also be using his Presidency to raise money for Asthma UK and in October 2008 he will be running the Venice marathon.


Notes for editors

1. The FDA is the trade union and professional body representing 18,000 of the UK’s senior civil and public servants. Our members include policy advisors, senior managers, tax inspectors, economists, statisticians, accountants, special advisers, government lawyers, diplomats, crown prosecutors and NHS managers.

2. Members in HMRC are represented by the Association of Revenue and Customs (ARC), a section of the FDA.

3. The FDA (formerly the First Division Association) should be referred to simply as "The FDA" and can be described as "the senior public servants’ union".

4. For further information contact:

Terry Cook, ARC President, tel: 020 7401 5555.
Oliver Rowe, Communications Officer, tel: 020 7401 5588 or 07751 366680.