§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the(a) total and (b) average (i) number and (ii) value of additional payments made in 2003—04 was to ensure that paying back tax credits overpayments did not cause hardship to families. [185064]
§ Dawn PrimaroloAs at 5 April 2004, there were six million families benefiting from tax credits. The Code of Practice sets out the circumstances in which additional payments may be made (for example as a result of their reporting changes in circumstance such as a rise in income). In 2003-04. in line with the code, around 65,000 such payments were made to tax credit recipients whose 2003–04 tax credit award had been reduced. The total value of those additional payments was around £20 million.