§ Baroness Gould of Potternewtonasked Her Majesty's Government:
In the light of the Government's intention to introduce a new tax credit for families with children, what are the future administrative arrangements for the Child Benefit Centre in Great Britain. [HL55]
§ The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Williams of Mostyn)The new tax credit will build on the foundation of universal Child Benefit. The Prime Minister has decided that responsibility for Child Benefit in Great Britain will transfer to Inland Revenue so that, when the new credit is introduced in 2003, Government support for children will be administered by one department. Until the transfer takes place, Child Benefit will remain the responsibility of the Department for Work and Pensions.