§ Ms Glenda JacksonTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many people in Hampstead and Highgate benefit from the(a) child care tax credit, (b) Sure Start maternity grant and (c) New Deal for Lone Parents; [127851]
(2) how many families in Hampstead and Highgate receive the Working Families tax Credit; and how many will benefit from changes allowing claims to be made immediately after the birth of a child;[127911]
§ Dawn PrimaroloFor a provisional estimate of the number of recipients of Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC) in Hampstead and Highgate at the end of April 2000, I refer my hon. Friend to my answer given on 28 June 2000,Official Report, column 537W to my hon. Friend the Member for Crosby (Mrs. Curtis-Thomas).
It is estimated that, in a full year, up to 70,000 families could benefit from the reforms to WFTC for mothers of new children announced in this year's Budget. No estimate is available of the number of these in Hampstead and Highgate.
About 10 per cent. of awards of Working Families Tax Credit include a child care tax credit. We are unable to provide a reliable estimate of the number of awards with a child care tax credit in Hampstead and Highgate.
The Sure Start maternity grant has been claimable from 27 March 2000 for babies due on or after 11 June and is gradually replacing the social fund maternity payment. I understand from the Department of Social Security (DSS) that figures are not available by constituency.
I understand from the Department for Social Security that, since October 1998, 40 lone parents in Hampstead and Highgate have found employment as a consequence of the New Deal for Lone Parents, and 21 lone parents have started Training and Education. 174 lone parents have joined the programme.
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families in(a) Coventry, South, (b) the West Midlands region and (c) nationally (i) receive the Working Families Tax Credit and (ii) will benefit from the changes allowing families to make a claim as soon as a baby is born. [127252]
§ Dawn Primarolo[holding answer 26 June 2000]The number of families in receipt of the Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC) at the end of April 2000 is provisionally estimated at 1,053,000, of which 107,000 were in the West Midlands region.
591WI refer my hon. Friend to my answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Crosby (Mrs. Curtis-Thomas) on 28 June 2000, Official Report, column 537W for the number of WFTC awards in Coventry, South.
It is estimated that, in a full year, up to 70,000 families could benefit from the reforms to WFTC for mothers of new children announced in this year's Budget. No estimates are available of the number of these in Coventry, South or the West Midlands region.