Working Families Tax Credit

HC Deb 19 March 2001 vol 365 c34W

Mr. Alexander

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what evaluation he has carried out of the impact of the Working Families Tax Credit. [154275]

Dawn Primarolo

I refer my hon. Friend to my answer to him on 18 December 2000,Official Report, column 846W.

Over 1.1 million families are currently claiming Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC), nearly 300,000 more than Family Credit at its peak. These families are now receiving on average £30 a week more than under Family Credit, rising to £35 after the Budget 2001 measures have taken effect.

As a result of the introduction of the WFTC and other personal tax and benefit changes over this Parliament, by October 2001 a single-earner family on half average earnings and with two young children will be £3,000 a year better off than under the 1997 system of tax and benefits.