§ Mr. BradleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) pursuant to his answer of 10 January,Official Report, column 53, what has been the average award made to the recipients of the new child care disregard since its introduction; and what was the figure for those receiving maximum family credit and for those on the lowest level of family credit;
(2) how many claims have been made for the new child care disregard since its introduction in October; how many of these claims have been (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful; and if he will break these fÏgures down according to people receiving (i) family credit. (ii) disability working allowance, (iii) housing benefÏt and (iv) council tax benefit.
§ Mr. Roger EvansInformation is available for family credit only. In the five-month period to 28 February 1995. the latest date for which information is available, there were 24,600 claims for help with child care charges. Of these, 12,900 families are now receiving higher family credit awards as a result of the new help. In 4,600 of these cases, the additional help increased their award to the maximum amount of family credit. The average additional weekly amount was £16.40.
Some 11,700 families claimed help with child care charges hut did not receive it. Of these, 8,800 families were not eligible because they did not satisfy the qualifying conditions and 2,900 families received no extra help because they were already receiving the maximum 599W amount of family credit. Families with child care charges, including those who receive maximum family credit, may get extra help through housing benefit and council tax benefit. No information is yet available on the numbers who have obtained help through these benefits.
It will take some time before the new help takes full effect as existing family credit recipients can only claim the child care help when their current 26-week award expires, while many potential beneficiaries need to find work of 16 hours or more and to make appropriate child care arrangements.
Source:Five per cent. sample of family credit awards made between I October 1994 and 28 February 1995. These figures do not include claims made by 28 February but decided after that date.
§ Mr. BradleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what the average award was made to family recipients of the new child care disregard since its introduction in October; and what was the figure for those receiving maximum family credit and for those on the lowest level of family credit;
(2) how many family credit recipients have claimed the new child care disregard since its introduction in October; and how many of these claims have been (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful.
§ Mr. Roger Evans[pursuant to his answer, 10 January /995, c.53]: I regret that the information provided contained an error. The correct information is set out.
In the two-month period to 30 November 1994, there were 2,000 families who received additional help as a result of the new help with child care charges where the additional help increased their award to the maximum amount of family credit, and not 4,340 families as stated in the original answer.
Source:Five per cent. sample of family credit awards made between 1 October 1994 and 30 November 1994. The figures do not include claims made by 30 November 1994 but decided after that date.
Benefit Customers at a given date Number of Customers Benefit Date Clyde Coast and Cowal Glasgow South West Sickness Benefit 31 January 1995 3,531 3,287 Invalidity Benefit 31 January 1995 7,465 10,282 Severe Disablement Allowance 31 January 1995 842 1,031 Maternity Allowance 31 January 1995 29 28 Income Support 30 November 1994 16,455 25,303 Family Credit 10 February 1995 1,946 1,828 Industrial Death Benefit 31 January 1995 71 94 Disability Working Allowance 17 February 1995 13 18