§ Mr. Duncan SmithTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total number of families who are eligible for the maximum childcare credit for(a) one child and (b) two or more children; and what proportion of these he estimates will take up the childcare credit for each of the first five years of its operation. [36360]
§ Dawn Primarolo[holding answer 26 March 1998]: I refer to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Havant (Mr. Willetts) on 1 April 1998, Official Report, columns 533–54. Families are eligible for the childcare tax credit only if they have eligible childcare costs. Those with eligible childcare costs below £100 a week (for one child families) and £150 for two or more children will not be entitled to the maximum childcare help.
§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are his estimates of the additional employment which will result from(a) the working 36W families tax credit and (b) the childcare tax credit in (i) 1998–99, (ii) 1999–2000, (iii) 2000–01 and (iv) 2001–02; and if he will make a statement. [36396]
§ Dawn Primarolo[holding answer 30 March 1998]: The Government expect that their programme of tax and benefit reform to make work pay will, like their New Deals, help people move off welfare and into work.