Further cuts were announced last week by HM Revenue & Customs as the Taxman confirmed 14 of its offices will be closed by December 2015, with 690 administrative staff being invited to take voluntary redundancy.

Additionally, 46 staff on the administrative assistant pay grade in both the Cumbernauld and Shipley offices respectively, have also been invited to take voluntary exits, while the remaining 453 staff affected by the office closures will be redeployed across the civil service

HMRC cited the automation and digitisation of many processes and the need to meet commitments to become “more highly-skilled and to operate from fewer locations” made in its spending review.

An uncertain future lies ahead of staff at Stockport’s Wellesley House, which has been ordered to close by March 2015. Though HMRC is seeking to redeploy them, it has invited all 107 to take up voluntary redundancy.

A spokesman for HMRC said: “The announcements are absolutely no reflection on the contribution and commitment of the people who are affected, but are a result of our need to become more efficient and to live within our financial constraints.

“We have put a package of support and career guidance in place for affected staff, who were given the news by managers in face-to-face meetings. We remain committed to avoiding compulsory redundancies wherever possible, but as the scope for redeployment reduces, it will become increasingly difficult to avoid this.”