§ Mr. RooneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated value of the notional amount included in family credit to compensate for non-entitlement to free school meals. [101144]
§ Mr. BayleyWhen the Family Credit scheme was introduced in 1988, provision was made to replace the value of entitlement to free school meals (and free milk/vitamins for the under-fives). This was done by adding £2.55 a week to each child credit. The total child credit has since been uprated annually by the Rossi index.
Working Families' Tax Credit was introduced from 5 October 1999. It is more generous than the Family Credit it replaces.