To whom a person resident in Hong Kong should write asking for recompense if he or she has suffered financial loss as a result of an erroneous refusal of an application for British citizenship by the Home Office; what details that person should include with her request; and whether they...

To whom a person resident in Hong Kong should write asking for recompense if he or she has suffered financial loss as a result of an erroneous refusal of an application for British citizenship by the Home Office; what details that person should include with her request; and whether they...

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of applicant files were lost by the immigration and nationality directorate in each of the last three years.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of applicant files were lost by the immigration and nationality directorate in each of the last three years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what the total value is of erroneous benefit payments identified by the Error Task Force;

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what the total value is of erroneous benefit payments identified by the Error Task Force;

(4) how many staff are employed in the Error Task Force.

(4) how many staff are employed in the Error Task Force.

(2) what the total (a) set-up and (b) running costs have been of the Error Task Force;

(2) what the total (a) set-up and (b) running costs have been of the Error Task Force;

(3) what targets have been set for the Error Task Force;

(3) what targets have been set for the Error Task Force;

My honourable friend the Minister of State for Pensions Reform (James Purnell) has made the following written Ministerial Statement. The Government have today published their response to the Select Committee's examination of the Parliamentary Ombudsman's report Trusting in the Pensions Promise (Cm 6961). The Government have, and will continue to...

My honourable friend the Minister of State for Pensions Reform (James Purnell) has made the following written Ministerial Statement. The Government have today published their response to the Select Committee's examination of the Parliamentary Ombudsman's report Trusting in the Pensions Promise (Cm 6961). The Government have, and will continue to...

The Government have today published their response to the Select Committee's examination of the Parliamentary Ombudsman's report ““Trusting in the Pensions Promise”” (Cm6961). The Government have, and will continue to have, absolute respect for both the office of the Ombudsman and its office holder. While there have been instances in...

The Government have today published their response to the Select Committee's examination of the Parliamentary Ombudsman's report ““Trusting in the Pensions Promise”” (Cm6961). The Government have, and will continue to have, absolute respect for both the office of the Ombudsman and its office holder. While there have been instances in...

The House will be aware that my predecessor made a written statement on 11 July 2006 about the discovery of an error affecting about 1,800 armed forces invaliding pensions. My predecessor advised that he would put in place a new project named ““Project Collins”” to identify and correct the pension...

The House will be aware that my predecessor made a written statement on 11 July 2006 about the discovery of an error affecting about 1,800 armed forces invaliding pensions. My predecessor advised that he would put in place a new project named ““Project Collins”” to identify and correct the pension...

My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Derek Twigg) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement. The House will be aware that my predecessor made a Written Statement on 11 July 2006 about the discovery of an error affecting about 1,800 Armed Forces invaliding pensions. My predecessor...

My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Derek Twigg) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement. The House will be aware that my predecessor made a Written Statement on 11 July 2006 about the discovery of an error affecting about 1,800 Armed Forces invaliding pensions. My predecessor...

Whether they will make inquiries into the reasons for any mistakes made in British citizenship certificates recently issued under the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1997.

Whether they will make inquiries into the reasons for any mistakes made in British citizenship certificates recently issued under the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1997.

Does the Leader of the House recognise the concern expressed in the Public Administration Committee’s sixth report about the Government’s unprecedented behaviour in contesting the parliamentary ombudsman’s recent findings of maladministration? Does not that raise fundamental constitutional issues about respect for the position of the parliamentary ombudsman and the relationship...

Does the Leader of the House recognise the concern expressed in the Public Administration Committee’s sixth report about the Government’s unprecedented behaviour in contesting the parliamentary ombudsman’s recent findings of maladministration? Does not that raise fundamental constitutional issues about respect for the position of the parliamentary ombudsman and the relationship...

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions recently published a written ministerial statement, setting out the Government’s response to that Public Administration Committee report. We understand the concern and we have the greatest respect for the ombudsman and the Public Administration Committee. Above all, we...

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions recently published a written ministerial statement, setting out the Government’s response to that Public Administration Committee report. We understand the concern and we have the greatest respect for the ombudsman and the Public Administration Committee. Above all, we...

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 29 November 2005, Official Report, column 341W, on credit overpayments, why HM Revenue and Customs made an error in paying tax credits to claimants subject to immigration control; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 29 November 2005, Official Report, column 341W, on credit overpayments, why HM Revenue and Customs made an error in paying tax credits to claimants subject to immigration control; and if he will make a statement.

Lords debate on unstarred question on whether the operation of the tax credits system is satisfactory.

Lords debate on unstarred question on whether the operation of the tax credits system is satisfactory.

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that. I do not think that I misheard him. I do not disagree with him on negative income tax, but I understood him to say that tax credits did not have disincentive effects. Obviously, I accept that he was talking particularly about...

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that. I do not think that I misheard him. I do not disagree with him on negative income tax, but I understood him to say that tax credits did not have disincentive effects. Obviously, I accept that he was talking particularly about...

My Lords, this has been a short debate but one that shows some of the strengths of this House. We have had a good range of people talking about practical difficulties in the system, as well as with great expertise about its more theoretical aspects. I congratulate the noble Lord,...

My Lords, this has been a short debate but one that shows some of the strengths of this House. We have had a good range of people talking about practical difficulties in the system, as well as with great expertise about its more theoretical aspects. I congratulate the noble Lord,...

My Lords, tax credits do not seem to be bringing out noble Lords in droves, especially during their dinnertime, but I shall be less diffident than my noble friend Lady Hollis in thanking the noble Lord, Lord Northbrook, for initiating this debate. Tax credits may not be in the foxhunting...

My Lords, tax credits do not seem to be bringing out noble Lords in droves, especially during their dinnertime, but I shall be less diffident than my noble friend Lady Hollis in thanking the noble Lord, Lord Northbrook, for initiating this debate. Tax credits may not be in the foxhunting...

My Lords, will the noble Lord clarify what he just said? I am not sure whether he is arguing against me or not. I was arguing that negative income taxes tend not to work because basically they are disincentives to work, whereas tax credit systems work much better. If they...

My Lords, will the noble Lord clarify what he just said? I am not sure whether he is arguing against me or not. I was arguing that negative income taxes tend not to work because basically they are disincentives to work, whereas tax credit systems work much better. If they...