Lin Homer
Chief Executive, HM Revenue and Customs
Which events or policies have dominated your attention during 2012, and how have you tackled them?
I guess the issue that has dominated HMRC’s agenda has been the noticeable shift in people’s attitude to tax. It has become a much bigger issue for people and they are becoming more sensitised to the tax strategies of major companies. I think that’s good for the department: it raises general awareness that the £474bn we collect each year underpins all of our democratic processes and is an important bedrock for the country.
How have the shape and capabilities of your department changed during 2012?
HMRC has been changing shape ever since it was created seven years ago, and has downsized significantly (by at least a third) to its present 75,000 people (66,000 FTE); but we are also changing shape in terms of skills, with a swing to enforcement and to tax professionalism as we streamline and automate more procedures.
Which aspects of the Civil Service Reform Plan are most important to improving the capabilities and operations of your department?
A lot of the Civil Service Reform Plan impacts on and is important for the big operational departments. For us, the emphasis on skills and capability is welcome. The emphasis on continued change to terms and conditions is understood by many (even if not welcomed), but I think people would like it concluded so they can put the uncertainty behind them. I guess the biggest opportunity is the push on digital.
What are the main challenges facing your department in 2013?
The challenges facing us in 2013 are to keep getting the money in (you all need us to!); to continue the journey with our staff to being a trusted and communicative top team; and to continue our move to putting more services online whilst we also bear down on non-compliance.
Cracker jokes are notoriously bad. Can you give your colleagues a good joke to tell over the Christmas dinner table?
My Christmas cracker joke…
Why was 6 afraid of 7?
Cos 7, 8, 9!