§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many lone parents have(a) moved off income support and on to the working families tax credit and (b) left the working families tax credit to return to income support in each year since the working families' tax credit was introduced. [131092]
§ Mr. PondIn April 2003, building on the success of working families tax credit, we introduced child tax credit and working tax credit to provide a single seamless system of support for children, and tackle in-work poverty and improve work incentives by making work pay.
The information requested is in the table.
Lone parents leaving income support (IS), moving to working families tax credit (WFTC) and subsequently returning to IS in Great Britain, 1 October 1999–31 March 2003 All lone parents leaving IS Moving to WFTC within 90 days of leaving IS Subsequently returning to IS from WFTC October 1999–September 2000 299,500 120,900 51,800 October 2000–September 2001 268,600 111,800 40,800 October 2001–September 2002 263,500 110,300 29,600 October 2002–March 2003 131,300 56,200 8,700 Notes:
- 1. Figures give lone parents leaving IS during the periods shown, while 'returns' refer to the whole lifetime of WFTC. Earlier periods will therefore show higher proportions returning to IS than later years.
- 2. Figures include those who were classed as lone parents' on leaving IS but are no longer categorised as such on return to IS.
- 3. As no new claims to WFTC were allowed after 1 April 2003, people leaving IS in this year had less opportunity to move to WFTC. However, some of these IS terminations may have since moved onto child tax credit.
Source:
IS and WFTC Computer Systems, 5 per cent. sample