Row as tax probe firm is given mail contract

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-wo ... -21196625/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

THE firm at the centre of a huge tax probe have been awarded a massive mail contract by the Government department who investigated them.

The HM Revenue and Customs decision to give TNT the work, worth millions of pounds, has outraged politicians and unions.

TNT, who are tipped to take over much of the Royal Mail's work under privatisation plans, paid back tens of millions of pounds in unpaid tax after the 2006 revelations.

An HMRC source said: "The contract is the largest one awarded in government for all HMRC's post and parcels. "

Labour MP for Linlithgow and East Falkirk Michael Connarty, who opposes privatising the Royal Mail, said: "There are serious questions that have to be addressed about whether or not one part of HMRC is talking to the other.

"There seems to be a determination to privatise at all costs.

"There is no discipline about whether the companies that are being used are above criticism.

"It's very worrying that companies with dubious tax records are being given Government contracts."

Communication Workers Union general secretary Billy Hayes said: "The company is not fit to be bidding for a multi-million-pound Government contract.

"It is not just their financial arrangements - it is the way they treat their workforce.

"We want to introduce stability into the Royal Mail and this is definitely not a company which would make the Royal Mail a better place to work."

An HMRC spokesman said: "Our legal obligation to maintain customer confidentiality means we are unable to offer comment on the tax affairs of named individuals, companies or organisations.

"We also maintain customer confidentiality relating to any commercial contracts involving HMRC."

A TNT spokesman said they could confirm their relationship with HMRC but it was company policy not to divulge any contractual information about clients.

[DGP1]

Didn't TNT keep losing HMRC cds with confidential details on it

[baldrick]

Didn't TNT keep losing HMRC cds with confidential details on it

Yes but they charged less to lose them. :mfo

[DGP1]

Didn't TNT keep losing HMRC cds with confidential details on it

Yes but they charged less to lose them. :mfo