§ Mr. Thurnhamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will itemise the extra work projected to fall on employers as a result of the introduction of family credit.
§ Mr. NewtonAny extra work falling on employers will be broadly as follows:
1. Providing information to DHSS about earnings, when a claim is made for family credit. Such inquiries are already made in the vast majority of claims under the existing family income supplement scheme.
2. Paying the family credit by adding it to net wages and including it in the pay packet. DHSS will deal with the claims and will notify employers who is to be paid, the weekly amount, and for what period.
186W3. Obtaining reimbursement of the family credit paid out by making appropriate recoveries, each month, from the total amount of national insurance contributions collected from all the employees. Employers already use this arrangement to recoup payments of statutory sick pay.
4. Stopping payment of family credit if the payee leaves the employment before the end of the period of entitlement, and notifying DHSS of this. Withholding payment for particular weeks in certain situations where the payee is absent from work.
5. Record keeping. Family Credit will become a further item to be shown on deduction records and in the associated returns made to the Collector of Taxes.