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Getty Images A report has called for bold action to improve HMRC’s customer services HMRC has denied running a “deliberately poor” phone service in an attempt to push taxpayers to seek help online instead. Nearly 44,000 customers were cut off without warning after being on hold for more than an hour last year, a report by a committee of MPs found. It warned HMRC’s service had got even worse since then and urged the tax authority to take responsibility for failing its customers. HMRC chief executive Jim Harra said the committee’s claims on its customer service were “completely baseless” and added “we’ve made huge improvements to our service standards, with call wait times down by 17 minutes since April last year”. The report comes ahead of the deadline for self-assessment tax returns on 31 January, which could lead to increased demand for help. HMRC’s phone line went dead on 43,690 customers who had been waiting 70 minutes to reach an adviser in the first 11 months of 2023-24, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report said. This was because HMRC’s system could not cope with the volume of calls but customers were not warned they were about to be cut off, nor were they called back, the report added. The figure for the number of callers cut off was published by the National Audit Office (NAO) in May last year but MPs have highlighted it among fears HMRC was running down its own helpline. Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP, chair of the PAC, said HMRC was “excavating its way to new lows” in its customer service every year. He added: “Worse, it seems to be degrading its own services as a matter of policy.” ‘Uncollectable debts’ The committee has called for “bold and ambitious leadership” to improve its customer services, and better tackle tax system abuse and unpaid debts. In 2023-24, HMRC wrote off £5bn in debts as uncollectable, up from £3.2bn in 2022-23. The report called for the authority to get a better understanding of the offshore tax gap – the difference between how much tax should be paid and what was actually paid. It also raised concerns over decreasing rates of criminal investigation and prosecution for tax-related offences. The recommendations come after a series of criticisms levelled at HMRC. In March last year, it announced its phone line would be closed between April and September, but was forced to reverse its decision within 24 hours. And in May a report found that customers were waiting an average of nearly 23 minutes to get through to an adviser. Mr Harra, first permanent secretary and chief executive at HMRC, said: “We will always be there to answer the phone for those who need extra help. At the same time, more than 80 per cent of customers are satisfied with our digital services, with more and more people using them to quickly and easily manage their tax affairs.” Source link

England wicketkeeper Amy Jones says the team’s “best cricket is yet to come” as they prepare to salvage some pride from the remainder of the Women’s Ashes. Australia retained the Ashes at the earliest opportunity with a thumping 57-run win in the first T20 at the Sydney Cricket Ground, which handed them an unassailable 8-0 lead in the points-based series. Each white-ball match is worth two points and the hosts won the preceding one-day international series 3-0, with the second of three T20s taking place in Canberra on Thursday at 08:40 GMT. Jones acknowledged the disappointment felt by the team and the fans, but remains confident that England can win the remaining matches to finish the series with a draw. “We still feel positive that we can put on a show and entertain and inspire you all,” Jones told BBC Sport. “There’s been many moments where we could have won different games, which I guess makes it all the more frustrating. “But we can absolutely draw from here. Our best cricket is yet to come and we’re all really excited about that.” Jones reaffirmed England captain Heather Knight’s view that they are “not far off” beating Australia despite particularly heavy defeats in the most recent matches. She also responded to criticism that the side have faced since the defeat in Sydney, after it emerged that spinner Sophie Ecclestone refused a television interview with pundit and former player Alex Hartley. Hartley had questioned the fitness of some England players following the Women’s T20 World Cup in the autumn, which both coach Jon Lewis and captain Heather Knight denied was a problem. “I can only speak for myself, but I just don’t like to look at it (the media), because I know that it could get to me and therefore it doesn’t serve me,” Jones said. “It’s their job to criticise, and of course it has an important purpose in growing the sport, but I don’t think I need the outside noise.” Source link

And when could immigration raids begin in the US? Source link

Dietitian’s tip: Instead of syrup, top each buttermilk waffle with 1/2 cup sliced fresh peaches sprinkled with cinnamon. Or top with 3/4 cup berries, such as strawberries, blueberries or raspberries. Another option is to top with 1/2 cup applesauce. Number of servings Serves 6 Diabetes meal plan Weight management Low-fat Meatless Healthy-carb Ingredients 1 cup whole-wheat or wholemeal flour 1 cup all-purpose, plain flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1 tablespoon sugar 2 cups buttermilk 1 egg 4 egg whites Directions In a large mixing bowl, combine the flours, baking powder, baking soda and sugar. In a medium bowl, whisk together the buttermilk and whole egg. Add to the flour mixture and stir to mix evenly. In a large metal or glass bowl, using an electric mixer on high speed, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the egg whites into the flour mixture. Place a baking sheet in the oven and heat to 225 F. Preheat a waffle iron. Spray with cooking spray if needed. Spoon or ladle about 3/4 cup of the batter into the waffle iron, depending on the size of the iron. Spread slightly with a spoon and cook according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Transfer the waffle to the baking sheet in the oven to keep warm. Repeat with the remaining batter to make 6 waffles. Nutritional analysis per serving Serving size: 1 waffle Calories 208 Total fat 2.5 g Saturated fat 1 g Trans fat trace Monounsaturated fat 0.5 g Cholesterol 34 mg Sodium 355 mg Total carbohydrate 37 g Dietary fiber 3 g Added sugars 2 g Protein 11 g Total sugars 7 g Polyunsaturated fat 0.5 g Potassium 266 mg Calcium 150 mg Magnesium 44 mg Vitamin D 8 IU Iron 2 mg Protein and dairy 1 Carbohydrates 2 Grains and grain products 2 Meats, poultry and fish 1 Dairy foods (low-fat or fat-free) 1/2 Source link

Dietitian’s tip: Adding more vegetables to this meat dish boosts its volume and nutrients. Number of servings Serves 6 Diabetes meal plan Weight management Healthy-carb Gluten-free High-fiber Ingredients 1 head cauliflower (1 to 1 1/4 pounds) 1 clove garlic 1 leek, white only, split in 4 pieces 1 tablespoon olive oil Freshly ground black pepper 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 cup diced carrots 1 cup diced celery 2 cups diced onion 1 teaspoon dried thyme 3 teaspoons sliced garlic 2 cups cooked chopped turkey breast (about 12 ounces) 1 cup red wine, or salt-free chicken broth 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar 8-ounce can tomato sauce with no added salt 1 teaspoon orange zest Chives, if desired Directions Heat the oven to 350 F. Break the cauliflower into small pieces. In a large saucepan, steam the cauliflower, garlic and pieces of leek in water until completely tender — about 20 to 30 minutes. Use a food processor to puree the vegetables until the texture is like that of mashed potatoes. Process only a small portion at a time. If you prefer a smoother texture, use a blender. Be sure to hold the blender lid on firmly with a dish towel. Add a little hot water if the vegetables seem dry. Stir in margarine and pepper. In a large saute pan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the carrots, celery, onions, thyme and garlic. Saute until then vegetables soften, about 5-6 minutes. Add the turkey and cook until browned, about 2-3 minutes. Add the red wine and cook until the wine is reduced by half. Add the vinegar and tomato sauce. Season with pepper. Transfer the mixture to a large casserole dish. Top with the mashed cauliflower. Bake for 20-30 minutes, until the top of the casserole is golden brown. Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Top with minced chives and orange zest, if you wish, and serve. Nutritional analysis per serving Serving size: 1 1/4 cups Calories 232 Total fat 5.5 g Saturated fat 1 g Trans fat 0 g Monounsaturated fat 2 g Cholesterol 43 mg Sodium 635 mg Total carbohydrate 20 g Dietary fiber 5.5 g Added sugars 0 g Protein 20 g Total sugars 8 g Polyunsaturated fat 1 g Potassium 848 mg Calcium 81 mg Magnesium 49 mg Vitamin D 2 IU Iron 3 mg Vegetables 3 Protein and dairy 1 Fats 1/2 Sweets 1/2 Vegetables 3 Meats, poultry and fish 2 Fats and oils 1/2 Sweets 1/2 Created by the chefs at Mayo Clinic’s Dan Abraham Healthy Living Center. Source link

Dietitian’s tip: It’s a good idea to wear rubber or plastic gloves when preparing jalapenos because the oils can burn your skin. If you don’t wear gloves, thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water after handling the peppers. Number of servings Serves 8 Diabetes meal plan Weight management Healthy-carb Kidney diet Gluten-free High-fiber Ingredients 1 pound extra-lean ground beef 1/2 cup chopped onion 2 large tomatoes, chopped (or 2 cups canned, unsalted chopped tomatoes) 4 cups canned, unsalted kidney beans, rinsed and drained 1 cup chopped celery 1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder or to taste Water, as desired 2 tablespoons cornmeal Jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped, as desired (not included in nutrition analysis) Directions In a soup pot, add the ground beef and onion. Over medium heat, saute until the meat is browned and the onion is see-through. Drain well. Add the tomatoes, kidney beans, celery and chili powder to the ground beef mixture. Cover and cook for 10 minutes, stirring often. Uncover and add water to desired consistency. Stir in cornmeal. Cook at least 10 minutes more to let the flavors blend. Ladle into warmed bowls and garnish with jalapeno peppers, if desired. Serve right away. Nutritional analysis per serving Serving size: 1 cup Calories 250 Total carbohydrate 26 g Total sugars 2 g Added sugars 0 g Dietary fiber 10 g Protein 20 g Total fat 8 g Saturated fat 3 g Trans fat 0 g Monounsaturated fat 3 g Polyunsaturated fat 0.5 g Cholesterol 40 g Sodium 373 mg Potassium 351 mg Calcium 76 mg Magnesium 22 mg Vitamin D 0 IU Iron 4 mg Protein and dairy 2 Vegetables 1 Nuts, seeds and dry beans 1 Meats, poultry and fish 2 Vegetables 1 Source link