Written question asked by Ashok Kumar (Labour) on Thursday, 16 December 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 20 December 2004. It was answered by Baroness Primarolo (Labour) on Monday, 20 December 2004 on behalf of the Treasury.

Treasury

Question: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effects of tax credits on the number of children living in poverty in Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency.

Answer: Dr. Kumar: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effects of tax credits on the number of children living in poverty in Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency. [206813] Dawn Primarolo: The introduction of the Child and Working Tax Credits has led to a significant increase in the number of working families benefiting from financial support through tax credits in Middlesborough South and East Cleveland. In November 2002 2,845 families were benefiting from the Working Families' Tax Credit; by January 2004 4,000 working families were benefiting from more than the family element of Child Tax Credit, an increase of 41 per cent. It is not possible to estimate the number of children living in poverty in a particular constituency.

Secondary information