§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of(a) the number of people who have claimed the children's tax credit to date and (b) the number who had claimed by 31 January. [152016]
§ Dawn Primarolo[holding answer 5 March 2001]: The Inland Revenue has invited PAYE taxpayers to claim for the children's tax credit (CTC). By 7 March they had received 3.2 million claim forms, which represents 80 per cent. of the potential 4 million families who are eligible for CTC and pay tax under PAYE. The position at the end of January was that the Inland Revenue had received 2.9 million forms. Claims are still coming in, and any which have not been dealt with in time for April pay 475W will be backdated under the tax rules to April 2001 so that the claimant has the benefit of the tax cut for the whole of the tax year. The self-employed claim in the normal way when they complete their 2001–02 tax return.
§ Mr. SarwarTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what resources he has made available to publicise and promote the new children's tax credit; and if he will make extra resources available to increase the number of telephone advisers on the helpline. [151620]
§ Dawn PrimaroloOn publicity, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Northavon (Mr. Webb) on 23 January 2001,Official Report, column 568W. The Inland Revenue has deployed extra staff to the helpline to deal with the increased number of calls resulting from the latest campaign.
§ Mr. SarwarTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on(a) the number of calls handled by the new children's tax credit helpline and (b) the level of staffing and resources allocated for the helpline. [151621]
§ Dawn PrimaroloThe children's tax credit helpline and orderline has taken around 1.9 million calls. The number of calls increased during the most recent advertising campaign and the Inland Revenue increased the number of staff deployed on the helpline.