Inland Revenue ; ;Continuing delay in production of employment histories ;Earlier this year the Gazette advised that the Inland Revenues Special Section A (SSA) was taking 26 weeks to produce employment histories ([2000] Gazette, 6 April, 49).

;The article explained why the SSA were having to take so long and informed you that they expected to resume a normal 13-week service by the end of October 2000.

Unfortunately, they are unable to comply with this.

;SSA apologises for the continuing delay and the revised date for a return to a 13-week service is 31 March 2001.

There are a number of reasons for this delay, including: ;l The high volume of cases involving asbestosis, or similarly serious ;illnesses, where medical evidence has been supplied.

These cases receive priority attention and SSA usually produces an employment ;history within eight weeks of receiving the necessary supporting medical evidence; ;l An increase in the number of cases where the employment history is needed for an imminent court hearing and written evidence of the date of the hearing has been provided.

; ;How you can help ;Please do not send reminders or enquiries unless 26 weeks have elapsed since you requested the employment history.

;Please do not contact SSA until nine weeks have elapsed in cases involving asbestosis, or similarly serious illnesses, or where there is an imminent court hearing.

; ;You can help further by ensuring that you ;l Enclose your clients consent and payment of our fee with your initial request.

Please remember that your clients consent must clearly state that he or she authorises the Inland Revenue to release his or her employment history to yourselves.

;l Supply relevant medical evidence with your request where asbestosis, or a similarly serious illness, is involved.

;l Supply relevant details of any imminent court hearing, if it is ;appropriate.

;l Do not send any duplicate requests or duplicate payment of our fee.

;l Send only requests for employment histories to SSA.

Please remember that SSA is unable to provide employment history information for any tax year earlier than 1961/62.

Nor can they supply earnings details or employers addresses.

; ;Further information ;SSA recently wrote to all the solicitors on its mailing list.

The letter contains information similar to that set out in this article.

If you ;would like a copy of the letter you can get this by telephoning ;084591 55051.