Local MP for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, Gerald Jones has raised serious concerns about the administration of the UK Government’s administration of the Tax Credit system in general, and around their current provider Concentrix.

Alarmingly according to UK Government figures, SYNNEX-Concentrix have considered around 667,000 cases, of which around 103,000 cases have seen amendments. Further to this Concentrix failed to meet its agreed performance standards 120 times in just under a year.

As a result, the HMRC have now taken action in announcing that the Concentrix contract will not be renewed, however MPs have raised concerns as to whether Concentrix’s activity is being properly monitored and scrutinised over the final 6 months of the contact.

More worrying allegations were unearthed on by the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire show, which suggested that there frequent calls from distressed members of the public, many of which claimed to be suicidal.

Gerald Jones expressed his concerns over the HMRC monitoring of Concentrix:

“There are serious questions about the administration of the Tax Credit system in general, and by Concentrix in particular. In the last month alone I’ve been receiving correspondence from constituents specifically regarding Concentrix, which makes up around a 25% of all the tax credits cases I’ve dealt with this year.

“The concerns surrounding suicide calls unearthed by the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire show in particularly worrying. I hope the Secretary of state will move quickly to reassure MPs that the government is looking into the issue and they will act quickly and decisively to ensure to that the public receive the fair treatment they deserve and that Concentrix are accountable for their entire operation.

“We need urgent clarification that HMRC are fulfilling their obligations to the British public.

 “My front bench colleague, Rebecca Long Bailey MP has written to the Chancellor demanding answers, and Labour MPs are planning to use all the parliamentary mechanisms available to raise concerns in this regard – including host an Opposition Day Debate in October 2016.”