§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many inquiries he has received from hon. Members during the past six months relating to the family credit system; and if he will make a statement on the working of this benefit.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardDuring the past six months over 120 letters about family credit have been received from right hon. and hon. Members; these have mainly been concerned with individual cases rather than the system as such. Family credit is an income-related benefit and therefore it is necessary to ask for detailed information about earnings and other income in order to determine entitlement in accordance with the rules laid down in the legislation. In general, these arrangements work well, but we shall continue to be prepared to consider the need for changes in the light of practical experience.
§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many families in Scotland are in receipt of family credit; and what estimated proportion these families represent of those entitled to this benefit; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThe latest information is for September 1989 when the number of families receiving family credit who were living in Scotland at the time their award was made was 39,000. Information about the total number of families eligible for family credit can be obtained only for Great Britain and only retrospectively, from family expenditure survey data.