§ Mr. RiddickTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how the introduction of family credit has affected the incomes of those families at the bottom end of the income scale; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter LloydFamily credit is a much more generous benefit than family income supplement which it replaced. For example, a family with three children aged nine, 11 and 13, claiming since 10 April, would normally be entitled to family credit of £66.70 a week if their net income was below the threshold of £54.80; about £42 a week if their net income was £90; about £24 a week if their net income was £115; and about £7 a week if their net income was £140. Family credit is now in payment to over ¼ million working families at an average award of over £25 a week. We are currently carrying out a major campaign to increase awareness of this very worthwhile benefit.