Written question asked by Baroness Corston (Labour), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Bassam of Brighton (Labour) on Thursday, 26 July 2007.

Children

Question: What was the total cost in £billion and as a percentage of gross domestic product in 2006 of (a) child benefit, and (b) child tax credit; and what was the corresponding cost in 1997 of (i) child benefit, and (ii) family credit.

Answer: The UK child benefit expenditure, as a percentage of gross domestic product, for 1997-98, 2001-02 and 2006-07 was just under 1 per cent in each year. Information on Child Tax Credit expenditure in 2006-07 is published in the HMRC departmental annual accounts 2006-07, which is available on the HMRC website at:.www.hmrc.qov.uk/about/hmrc-accounts2007.htm This will also include expenditure on the disabled child element, which is not available separately. Information on expenditure on children within working families tax credit and family credit is not available. Information on expenditure on children within income support is not available. Income support is the only DWP-administered benefit specifically for children.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 5080; 694 c109WA
Session: 2006-07
Subjects: Disability Children Child tax credit Child benefit Income support Expenditure Family credit Social security benefits Working families tax credit
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk