§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the workload on local authorities of reconfiguring(a) housing benefit, (b) council tax and (c) school meal application since the introduction of the new tax credit system. [116376]
§ Malcolm WicksThe Department has considered carefully the impact of new tax credits on housing benefit and/or council tax benefit (HB/CTB). There are likely to be significantly more HB/CTB customers qualifying for new tax credits, compared to those previously claiming working families tax credit and HB/CTB.
£6 million was distributed by the Department for initial fixed start up costs to local authorities in 2002–03. This was to cover the cost of IT, training and publicity arising as a result of the introduction of the new tax credits.
396WIn 2003–04, a total of £14 million was allocated to local authorities to cover transitional and ongoing costs of new tax credits administration. This money was distributed using a formula based on caseload size.
School meals are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills.