HC Deb 05 February 2002 vol 379 cc844-5W
Mr. George Howarth

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints he has received from(a) hon. Members and (b) members of the public about the loss of working families tax credit for people on sickness leave from their employment; and if he will make a statement. [30965]

Dawn Primarolo

The Inland Revenue does not hold the figures requested for complaints on this specific issue from either hon. Members or members of the public. Periods of sick leave during a working families tax credit (WFTC) award do not have any effect on the amount of tax credits payable, and do not count as being at work for the purpose of a new or renewal WFTC application.

Mr. Clappison

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 19 December 2001,Official Report, columns 323–24W, on the working families tax credit, what the total value was of the 478 penalties imposed for false WFTC applications between October 1999 and September 2001. [26472]

Dawn Primarolo

Further work on the number of penalties attributable to working families tax credit investigations has shown that there were 507 for the period between October 1999 and September 2001. The total value of these penalties was £512,223.78.

Mr. Paul Marsden

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many working families have(a) claimed and (b) been awarded the working families tax credit in Shrewsbury and Atcham; and if he will make a statement. [32589]

Dawn Primarolo

No estimates are available for(a). For (b), I refer my hon. Friend to my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Jarrow (Mr. Hepburn) on 16 January 2002, Official Report, column 293W.