HC Deb 27 November 2000 vol 357 cc478-9W
Ms Julie Morgan

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families in Wales have benefited from the Working Families Tax Credit to date; and how many children in Wales are in such families. [140372]

Dawn Primarolo

It is provisionally estimated that 67,000 families in Wales were in receipt of the Working Families Tax Credit at the end of August 2000. About 130,000 children were in these families.

Mr. Edwards

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide a breakdown of the average earnings of the main earner in households in receipt of the Working Families Tax Credit by(a) occupation and (b) employment status. [140259]

Dawn Primarolo

Estimates of the number of families receiving the Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC) at the end of May 2000 are shown analysed by the occupation group of the main earners at Table 5.1 in the WFTC Quarterly Enquiry for May 2000.

A copy has been placed in the Library. The estimates are based on a 5 per cent. sample of awards. The average gross weekly earnings of the main earners in each group are as follows:

Number(000) Average gross weekly earnings of main earner(£)
All occupations 1,060.8 153
Managers and administrators 34.8 170
Professional occupations 25.6 187
Associated professional and technical occupations 74.5 187
Clerical and secretarial occupations 201.3 168
Craft and related occupations (non-managerial workers) 163.4 167
Personal and protective services 278.2 125
Sales occupations 147.4 129
Plant and machine operatives 120.5 163
Other occupations 15.1 176

Mr. Willetts

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of the families in receipt of the Working Families Tax Credit are eligible for passported benefits; and if he will list the benefits concerned. [139829]

Dawn Primarolo

The passport to benefits can apply generally to everyone receiving Working Families Tax Credit or it can be targeted on those on lowest incomes. For example Maternity and Funeral payments from the Department of Social Security Social Fund are available to all families receiving Working Families Tax Credit.