HC Deb 11 June 2003 vol 406 cc861-2W
Mr. Duncan

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many telephone calls have been received on the hotline for hon. Members to resolve constituents' tax credit queries in each week since 1 January. [115803]

Dawn Primarolo

The number of calls answered by the MPs' tax credit hotlines in each week to the end of April is shown in the following table:

Week starting: Calls answered by the GB and NI tax credit hotlines for MPs
30 December 2002 1—
06 January 2003 10
13 January 2003 9
20 January 2003 5
27 January 2003 8
03 February 2003 1—
10 February 2003 14
17 February 2003 7
24 February 2003 13
03 March 2003 11
10 March 2003 15
17 March 2003 13
24 March 2003 25
Week starting: Calls answered by the GB and NI tax credit hotlines for MPs
31 March 2003 54
07 April 2003 218
14 April 2003 412
21 April 2003 470
28 April 2003 827
1 indicates less than 5.

Mr. Duncan

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of delays in settling outstanding tax credit queries arising from the changes to the tax credit system on 6 April. [115806]

Dawn Primarolo

I refer the hon. Member to my statement to the House on 28 April 2003,Official Report, column 53, and to the comments I made during the debate in Westminster Hall on 4 June 2003, Official Report, column 99–122WH.