HC Deb 12 December 2002 vol 396 cc474-5W
Mr. Kidney

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further action he intends to take to promote the take up of new tax credits in April 2003. [85277]

Dawn Primarolo

The publicity campaign for the two new tax credits—Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit began in September. An 'announcement' TV advertisement designed to set the scene generally was followed by a second wave of TV adverts aimed at existing tax credits claimants. The current, third, phase of the campaign takes a number of families that together represent the broad range of people entitled to the new tax credits. This phase includes TV, radio, press and online advertising.

A further phase of advertising will begin mid January and run until the end of the month. This will remind claimants of the changes taking place in April, and in particular of the way support for children will be redirected from the pay packet, to the person in the family mainly responsible for the children.

Mr. Frank Field

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Inland Revenue has completed its study of the 3,250 tax credit cases identified by the NAO to assess the level of fraud; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [86714]

Dawn Primarolo

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 19 September 2002 to the hon. Member for Hertsmere,Official Report, column 207W.

Mr. Frank Field

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Inland Revenue has completed its analysis of the take-up of tax credits using the Family Resources Survey; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [86715]

Dawn Primarolo

I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Havant (Mr. Willetts) on 24 July 2002,Official Report, column 1191W.

Mr. Willetts

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have applied for the higher children's tax credit paid to families in the year of a child's birth. [86740]

Dawn Primarolo

Claim forms for children's tax credit have been included in "bounty packs" given to new mothers around the time of their baby's birth. To 5 December the Inland Revenue has received 85,000 applications for children's tax credit for babies born on or after 6 april 2002.