Written question asked by Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative) on Tuesday, 14 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, if he will make a statement on the processing of tax credit claims. - Including figures and ref to Inland Revenue website.

Answer: Miss McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the processing of tax credit claims. [205586] Dawn Primarolo: Over 6 million families are now benefiting from tax credits and 10 and a half million children are benefiting. The tax credits computer system captures data from claims, checks entitlement, calculates tax credit awards, sends out a decision notice and makes payments automatically. The Inland Revenue aim to decide 55 per cent. of all tax credit claims, renewals and change of circumstances in five working days and 95 per cent. in 30 working days. It published its progress against Public Service Agreement (PSA) targets in the Board's Annual Report, published in October 2004, which is available on the internet at http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk.

Secondary information