HC Deb 25 March 2002 vol 382 cc740-1W
Mr. Webb

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many disabled people have benefited from the fast track to disabled person's tax credit since this provision was introduced. [44459]

Dawn Primarolo

[holding answer 19 March 2002]: The number of recipients of the disabled person's tax credit (DPTC) entering via the fast-track is shown in table 2.3 of each DPTC Quarterly Enquiry, copies of which are in the Library.

Mr. Peter Duncan

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the new working families tax credit unit in Livingston to be operational. [45311]

Dawn Primarolo

The Livingston Contact Centre, which will handle telephone inquiries about tax credits, is expected to be operational from 1 August 2002.

Mr. Clappison

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate he has made of the number of people living on below 60 per cent. of median income who have an entitlement to the working families tax credit and are not in receipt of any payment; [45286]

(2) how many families living on below 60 per cent. of median income are in receipt of the working families tax credit; and what percentage of the total working families tax credit case load this represents. [45289]

Dawn Primarolo

No such estimates for working families tax credit will be available until the Family Resources Survey data for 2000–01 have been analysed.

Chris Grayling

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason(a) a widow receiving a widowed mother's allowance is not eligible for working families tax credit and (b) a mother receiving maintenance payments from a living ex-partner is eligible for the credit. [45858]

Dawn Primarolo

A widow in receipt of widowed mother's allowance and a mother in receipt of maintenance payments may both be eligible for the working families tax credit.

Mrs. Lawrence

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the compliance statistics for working families tax credit were in the nine months to 31 December 2001; and what the comparable statistics were in the previous year. [46644]

Dawn Primarolo

Compliance statistics for the nine months to 31 December 2001 show an increased effectiveness in the Inland Revenue's compliance programme. Of the 16,016 inquiries completed in this period, 5,427 cases (34 per cent.) were found to contain discrepancies and these produced a compliance yield of £10.4 million.

I very much regret having to report that the Inland Revenue have advised me that some previous statistics relating to tax credit compliance have proved to be incorrect or incomplete. The correct equivalent figures for the year ended 31 March 2001 are that, of the 31,211 inquiries completed in that year, 5,573 cases (18 per cent.) were found to contain discrepancies producing a compliance yield of £7.7 million.

These errors in the Inland Revenue's tax credit statistics have also resulted in incorrect information being given in responses to some written parliamentary questions, in letters to hon. Members and during debates. I am writing to the Members concerned correcting errors and I will place a copy of the letters in the Libraries of both Houses.

Mr. Clappison

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families living on below 60 per cent. of median income are in receipt of the children's tax credit; and what percentage of the total children's tax credit caseload this represents. [45284]

Dawn Primarolo

This information is not available.

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he plans to introduce incentives for tax credit towards training personnel employed in small and medium sized enterprises. [45561]

Dawn Primarolo

The Government keeps all taxes under review and any changes will be announced in the Budget report.

The Government is taking forward its Budget 2001 commitment to consider policies, possibly including a tax credit, to encourage low skilled workers to train. The PBR announced pilot schemes to start this year which will test a range of policy options to support and encourage training.