Wirral to share data with HMRC

The data sharing agreement is part of a new joint working deal, which will also see the two organisations share the council's office space in Birkenhead from February 2011. A spokesperson for Wirral told GC News that although it intends to share data with HMRC, there are no plans to share IT services with the department. "HMRC are putting in their own IT lines as part of Government Connect security requirements," she added. The council said the deal was primarily to improve accessibility to services, as HMRC is closing one of its offices in Liverpool as part of a rationalisation programme. Sharing premises will allow HMRC to retain a "customer facing presence" in Wirral. "It will also positively allow us to cross refer mutual customers at one site. Benefit fraud is currently dealt with separately, but we are in the process of finalising a formal agreement with HMRC (as other local authorities are) for a level of data sharing," the spokesperson explained. "We already share information through the National Anti Fraud Network with several other public sector organisations, and this move will allow us to extend our work with HMRC in specific areas." The deal will involve £39,200 worth of works being carried out to Wirral's one stop shop, which will be jointly funded by both organisations. Jeff Green, leader of Wirral MBC, said: "It makes sense for us to share office space with HMRC. Not only does it reduce our office costs, it also makes it easier for us to work together to tackle tax and benefit fraud."