§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to the answers to the hon. Member for Montgomery (Mr. Öpik) of 13 January 1998,Official Report, columns 210–11, and to the hon. Member for Regent's Park and Kensington, North (Ms Buck) of 15 January 1998, Official Report, columns 312–13, for what reason parents will be able to receive £95.50 a week towards the cost of their child care after the disregard is enhanced to £100 from June 1998; if she will set out in detail how the working family tax credit will provide more help with the cost of child care in addition to the £100 disregard; and if she will make a statement. [24998]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyThe increase in the child care disregard will allow up to £100 a week to be off-set against earnings, which would otherwise be taken into 427W account against benefit entitlement. This means that a recipient of Family Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit can receive up to £95.50 a week in extra benefit.
The Working Family Tax Credit is one of the options currently under consideration by the Government. The details will be announced once a decision is made.