§ Mr. John BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many(a) couple families with children and (b) one parent families he estimates will be passported to the Sure Start maternity grant in Leeds West, under the new tax credit scheme. [83480]
§ Malcolm WicksInformation on eligibility for Sure Start Maternity Grants by family type is not available, either at local or national level.
From April 2003, Sure Start Maternity Grants will be available to families in receipt of Child Tax Credit at a rate greater than the family element (£545/year or £1090 for families with a child under the age of one), or Working Tax Credit where a disabled worker is included in the assessment.
It is estimated that nationally there will be around 250,000 awards of Sure Start Maternity Grants in 2003–04 under the new rules. This compares with 201,000 in 2001–02. Around 25,000 of the additional successful claims will be due to the link to the new tax credits.