HC Deb 02 April 2003 vol 402 c720W
Mr. Laws

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the delay in processing claims for the working tax credit; how many claims(a) have been submitted and (b) are awaiting processing; and if he will make a statement. [105217]

Mr. Webb

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 24 March 2003,Official Report, column 65W, on tax credits, how many forms have been processed; how many awards of (a) child tax credit and (b) working tax credit have been calculated from forms received; and how many awards he expects to have been calculated in time for the launch of the new tax credits in April. [105673]

Dawn Primarolo

[holding answers 27 and 28 March 2003]: There is a single form covering claims to both working tax credit and child tax credit. By 28 February 2003, over 3 million claims had been received (including 334,000 on-line). Where people have claimed in good time, they have answered all the questions on the form and there are no outstanding queries they should have their award set up in time for their first payment in April.