Tax Credit Scheme

HC Deb 19 July 1973 vol 860 cc181-2W

Mrs. Kellet-Bowman

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now make a further statement on the tax credit scheme.

Mr. Barber

Yes. The Government welcome the report, published earlier today, by the Select Committee on Tax Credit. The Government will go ahead with the tax credit scheme, and have decided that all child credits should be paid to the mother. This will give a by value and by number were placed, respectively, by competitive tendering, at an agreed price as a result of a single tender or placed non-competitively with the understanding that prices would be agreed later for 1970–71, 1971–72, and 1972–73.

Mr. Higgins

I regret that information on the numbers of contracts, excluding defence, placed by Departments is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. The information on the values of contracts is as follows:—

credit for every child, including the first child, and all payments will be made in cash directly to the mother. The Government will consider the implications of the proposal to pay a credit to the wife in regular employment, and will study the other recommendations of the Select Committee's report. Legislation will be brought forward as soon as practicable.