§ Mr. WoodwardTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many families on average were entitled to claim the Working Families Tax Credit in(a) St. Helens, (b) Merseyside and (c) the North West region for each year since its introduction; and how many in each case are entitled to claim Working Tax Credit; [141297]
136W(2) how much Working Families Tax Credit was received on average by an eligible family in (a) St. Helens, (b) Merseyside and (c)the North West region in each year since its introduction. [141296]
§ Dawn PrimaroloThere are no estimates below the national level for the take-up rate of Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC), or for the number of families entitled to claim it. For estimates of the number of families in each region who are expected to benefit from the Child and Working Tax Credits, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Leigh (Andy Burnham) on 17 December 2002,Official Report, column 733W. No estimates exist for local authorities.
For each quarter between May 2001 and November 2002, the number of families in each region and local authority receiving tax credits, and the average weekly award, appear in "Working Families' and Disabled Person's Tax Credit Statistics. Geographical Analyses". For earlier quarters, sample estimates for each region appear in the WFTC Quarterly Enquiries, but no estimates exist for local authorities. These documents can be found on the Inland Revenue website, at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/menu.htm.