HC Deb 27 March 2001 vol 365 c532W
Ms Harman

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the(a) expected impact of the 2001 Budget and (b) combined impact of the Budget measures of 1998, 1999 and 2000 on (i) women and (ii) men in London. [155007]

Dawn Primarolo

The impact of Budget measures on men and women cannot be measured separately for London. For the UK as a whole, by October 2001, as a result of personal tax and benefit measureson average women rill be £85 a year better off and men will be £80 a year better oft from Budget 2001, compared to an indexed Budget 2000 base; on average women will be £440 a year better off and men will be £225 a year better off from measures introduced over the Parliament as a whole, compared to an indexed 1997 base. For households, the average gain will be £590 a year.

Looking at the impact of individual new measures on people in London: the introduction of the Children's Tax Credit will benefit 475,000 families; the increase in the 10p income tax band will benefit around three million tax payers; the £5 increase in WFTC will benefit 85,000 working families.

Mrs. Gilroy

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what circumstances self-employed persons may become eligible for the Working Families Tax Credit; and if he will make a statement with specific reference to those businesses affected by foot and mouth disease. [155352]

Dawn Primarolo

Both self-employed people and employees may be eligible for Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC) if they are on low or middle incomes, work 16 hours or more a week and if they are responsible for one or more children. WFTC is available to people working in businesses affected by foot and mouth disease, just as it is to other employed or self-employed people.

Mrs. Gilroy

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what circumstances employees who work for small businesses which have cash flow problems resulting in reduced working hours and changed conditions of employment may become eligible for the Working Families Tax Credit and if he will make a statement with specific reference to businesses affected by foot and mouth disease. [155353]

Dawn Primarolo

Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC) provides an earnings top-up for low and middle income working families. An employee working for a small business—including any business affected by foot and mouth disease—would be eligible to apply for WFTC as long as he or she works for 16 hours or more a week and has one or more dependent children.