CALLS are being made for the UK Government to look at alternative sites in Porthmadog to house HMRC’s Welsh language call centre, which is under threat from closure.

Dwyfor Meirionnydd MP Liz Saville Roberts used a Parliamentary debate in the on the future of HMRC services to ask for other sites to be looked at to save around 20 jobs at the centre.

Mrs Saville Roberts questioned proposals to move the service to Cardiff and said that the Porthmadog office serves the region of Wales where demand for Welsh language services is at its highest.

The Plaid Cymru MP called on the government to commit to reconsidering the impact of HMRC proposals on their services in Wales and the significance of well-paid public sector jobs to a low-wage economy such as Dwyfor Meirionnydd.

She said: “This is the home of the tax office’s Welsh language unit and of needs enhanced service staff.

"It is well placed to attract and retain fluent Welsh-speaking staff, and offers a naturally Welsh-speaking workplace.

“As one of the users, I would urge every Welsh speaker to take advantage of these services. This is good not only for the language, but particularly because the Porthmadog staff are excellent at their job.

“If the Porthmadog office building itself – Mapeley’s Ty Moelwyn is the problem, I’d strongly urge the government to look at alternative sites in that area and to urge HMRC to do the same."

Read the full story in this week’s Arfon/Dwyfor edition of the Cambrian News