§ Mr. ButlerTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he is taking to improve the service given to self-employed people seeking help through family credit.
§ Mr. JackThere are already over 50,000 families on family credit, around 15 per cent. of the caseload, where the main earner is self-employed. The average payment of family credit in these cases is £44.10 a week, compared with £28 a week for families where the main earner is an employee.
We have commissioned a research study, which is being carried out by the social policy research unit at the university of York, into family credit for the self-employed. The study, which is well advanced, with information due to become available during next year, will enable us to determine what changes in assessment and procedures are called for in order to further improve the way we handle claims from the self-employed.