Working Families Tax Credit (Hansard, 22 January 2001)

§ Mr. Dawson
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people from Lancaster and Wyre are claiming Working Families Tax Credit. [145616]

§ Dawn Primarolo
Copies of the latest quarterly inquiries giving statistics for the Working Families Tax Credit and the Disabled Person's Tax Credit are in the Library. They contain estimates of the number of recipients in each parliamentary constituency, and in each local authority.

§ Mr. Field
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of families with children where at least one parent works are receiving Working Families Tax Credit. [146102]

§ Dawn Primarolo
[holding answer 18 January 2001]: It is estimated that 1,129 thousand families with dependent children were in receipt of the Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC) awards at the end of August 2000.
No estimates are available for August of the total number of families with dependent children where at least one parent was working for at least 16 hours per week.

§ Mr. Portillo
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how long it has taken on average for a business to be reimbursed by the Inland Revenue those moneys paid to employees as working family tax credits; [145460]
(2) what representations he has received from Manchester Chamber of Commerce and Industry about delays in reimbursement to businesses of moneys owed by the Inland Revenue relating to payment of the working families tax credit; and if he will make a statement on the Inland Revenue's reimbursement policy. [145534]

§ Dawn Primarolo
[holding answer 17 January 2001]: The scheme for paying tax credits through the payroll is designed to ensure that employers have the money they need to pay the tax credit at the right time.
Employers who receive notification to pay tax credits can apply for advance funding from the Inland Revenue if they think that they will have to pay out more in tax credits than the PAYE tax, NICs and student loan deductions which they have to pay to the Inland Revenue for the same period. As long as the application for funding is made at least nine working days before the first tax credit payment is due the Inland Revenue should be able to get funding to employers at least three days in advance of the first day on which they will pay tax credits.
I have seen a copy of representations made by the Manchester Chamber of Commerce and Industry to David Irwin of the Small Business Service who will be replying directly.