§ Mr. RooneyTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what component of Disability Working Allowance compensates for non-entitlement to free school meals; [101145]
(2) what is the estimated value of the amount included in (a). Working Families Tax Credit and (b) Disabled Persons Tax Credit as compensation for non-entitlement to free school meals. [101143]
§ Dawn Primarolo[holding answers 2 December 1999]: Disability Working Allowance was introduced in 1992 and was broadly based on Family Credit. When the Family Credit scheme was introduced in 1988, provision was made to replace the value of entitlement to free school meals by adding £2.55 a week to each child credit. The total child credit has since been uprated annually by the Rossi index.
Disabled Persons Tax Credit and Working Families Tax Credit which replaced Disability Working Allowance and Family Credit respectively were introduced on 5 October 1999.