§ Mr. FlightTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures Her Majesty's Government are taking through the benefits system to support two-parent families with only one wage earner; and if he will make a statement. [63190]
§ Dawn Primarolo[holding answer 11 January 1999]: The Secretary of State for Social Security announced a number of measures in his statement on 28 October 1998 including the largest ever increase in Child Benefit. And the under-11 child premium in Family Credit was increased from November last year—a change which will follow through into the Working Families Tax Credit when it replaces Family Credit from October 1999. The WFTC will be part of the tax system, and because it will begin to be paid through the pay packet from April 2000, it will reinforce the message that "work pays". The WFTC will help make work pay for families on low and middle incomes, around 400,000 more than are currently helped by Family Credit. Many of these families will be couples with only one income, where one parent chooses to stay at home with the children.