HC Deb 16 November 2000 vol 356 cc757-8W
Mr. Willetts

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families he estimates are eligible for the Working Families Tax Credit but not claiming it.[137615]

Dawn Primarolo

Estimating the number of families currently eligible for the Working Families Tax Credit requires, among other things, detailed survey data for 2000–01. These are not yet available.

The number of families receiving WFTC at the end of August is provisionally estimated at 1,123,000, compared to 817,000 families who were in receipt of Family Credit in August 1999.

Mr. Field

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to measure the level of fraud in applications for Working Families Tax Credit.[137389]

Dawn Primarolo

[holding answer 9 November 2000]: The Inland Revenue is currently undertaking an exercise to benchmark the level of fraud within Working Families Tax Credit and Disabled Person's Tax Credit. The findings of this exercise will be used by the Inland Revenue to ensure their tax credits compliance work is carried out in the most effective way.

Mr. Fallon

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the annual cost to the Exchequer would be of disregarding the widow's maintenance allowance in respect of the Working Families Tax Credit.[137736]

Dawn Primarolo

[holding answer 10 November 2000]: I am not aware of a widow's maintenance allowance.