Written question asked by Viscount Thurso (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 14 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 4 April 2005. It was answered by Baroness Primarolo (Labour) on Monday, 4 April 2005 on behalf of the Treasury.

Treasury

Question: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 1st March, Official Report, column 1064W, on tax credits, whether the omission of earnings of one partner on tax credits awards issued in 2003-04 occurred as a result of (a) human processing error and (b) a computer systems failure.

Answer: John Thurso: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 1 March 2005, Official Report, column 1064W, on tax credits, whether the omission of earnings of one partner on tax credits awards issued in 2003-04 occurred as a result of (a) human processing error and (b) a computer systems failure. [222429] Dawn Primarolo: My earlier answer stated that the Inland Revenue is aware of a small number of occasions in 2003-04 when the earnings of one partner were omitted in a joint tax credits award. This error occurred when staff did not follow the correct procedure to update the tax credits computer system with more recent information about income.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 432 c1176W; 222429
Session: 2004-05
Subjects: Databases Computers Inland Revenue Maladministration Personal income Welfare tax credits Taxation
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk