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2006-07 (660)
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To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of pensioners who are entitled to pension credit but do not claim it; what steps he is taking to reduce that number; and if he will make a statement.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of pensioners who are entitled to pension credit but do not claim it; what steps he is taking to reduce that number; and if he will make a statement.
Asked by
Laurence Robertson
(Conservative)
Answered by
Mike O'Brien
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Work and Pensions
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
9 October 2007
For answer on
11 October 2007
Answered on
19 October 2007
Latest estimates of the number of pensioners eligible for but not claiming pension credit can be found in ““Pension Credit Estimates of Take-Up in 2005/2006””. A copy of the report is available in the Library.The Pension Service is undertaking a wide range of steps to encourage eligible pensioners to claim pension credit. In 2006-07 around 2.8 million direct mailings were issued to customers who may have an entitlement to pension credit.The Pension Service Local Service offers face-to-face visits to potentially eligible and vulnerable pensioners during which full benefit entitlement checks are carried out. Nearly one million home visits were conducted during 2006-07.The Pension Service Local Service is continuing to work closely with local partners (including local authorities and voluntary organisations such as Help the Aged and Age Concern) on pension credit take-up activity. There are now 184 operational Joint Working Partnerships enabling the Pension Service Local Service, local authorities and the voluntary sector to provide a single point of access to social care and benefit entitlement.In addition, we have modernised our service and encourage take up by enabling new customers who call to claim their state pension, to also apply for pension credit, housing benefit and council tax benefit in a single telephone call if appropriate.
Subjects
Pension credit; Take-up
Date
19 October 2007
Reference
157341; 464 c1372W
House
House of Commons
I thank the Minister for her answer. I hope that she will respond positively to point 4.4, which asks:"““Does such a system…truly meet the needs of this particular customer group?””"
I hope, too, that she will take on board the advice of Citizens Advice that it might be time to look again at introducing fixed awards, which would improve stability. Is not the fundamental problem that people who are trying to budget on a weekly basis cannot cope with the retrospective nature of the changes to their finances? That puts them in such a difficult position that it is beginning to frighten people off from claiming.
I thank the Minister for her answer. I hope that she will respond positively to point 4.4, which asks:"““Does such a system…truly meet the needs of this particular customer group?””"
I hope, too, that she will take on board the advice of Citizens Advice that it might be time to look again at introducing fixed awards, which would improve stability. Is not the fundamental problem that people who are trying to budget on a weekly basis cannot cope with the retrospective nature of the changes to their finances? That puts them in such a difficult position that it is beginning to frighten people off from claiming.
Asked by
Robert Smith
(Liberal Democrat)
Answering body
Treasury
Oral questions - 1st Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
18 October 2007
Citizens Advice has produced a serious report that looks at the issue carefully, but I do not see any evidence in a fall-off in the numbers of claimants who are receiving their entitlements. I acknowledge that there is a fear and I take that seriously, but tax credits offer a flexible system of support for 6 million families, as I have said, which equates to nearly 20 million people. Up to 700,000 families would receive less support under a fixed system. Although we are considering all such ideas, that is not the way to go. We must improve the delivery and administration of tax credits, which I believe is a better system than a fixed payments system.
Subjects
Administration; Welfare tax credits; Take-up
Date
18 October 2007
Reference
464 c961
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
I thank the Minister for that answer, but errors are still made in approximately 2 million of the 6 million claims for tax credits. As a result, many people entitled to tax credits do not apply for them. Will the Minister give the figures for my constituency—or for the whole of Edinburgh, including the Chancellor's constituency—for those who are entitled to, but do not receive, tax credits?
I thank the Minister for that answer, but errors are still made in approximately 2 million of the 6 million claims for tax credits. As a result, many people entitled to tax credits do not apply for them. Will the Minister give the figures for my constituency—or for the whole of Edinburgh, including the Chancellor's constituency—for those who are entitled to, but do not receive, tax credits?
Asked by
John Barrett
(Liberal Democrat)
Answering body
Treasury
Oral questions - 1st Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
18 October 2007
I do not have that specific breakdown, but I can tell the hon. Gentleman that, in Edinburgh, West, 7,300 families and 12,200 children benefit from tax credits. He may also like to know that, in families with children whose household income is under £10,000, 97 per cent. of those entitled to the benefit and support of tax credits are receiving them.
Subjects
Administration; Edinburgh; Overpayments; Low incomes; Welfare tax credits; Take-up
Date
18 October 2007
Reference
464 c943
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
I can report that the latest figures show that the number of national and Scottish vocational qualifications awarded continues to rise, up 36 per cent. since 1997. Our wider strategy for vocational training was set out in ““World Class Skills””, the Command Paper published last week.
I can report that the latest figures show that the number of national and Scottish vocational qualifications awarded continues to rise, up 36 per cent. since 1997. Our wider strategy for vocational training was set out in ““World Class Skills””, the Command Paper published last week.
Answered by
John Denham
(Labour)
Asked by
Nicholas Winterton
(Conservative)
Answering body
Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills
Type
Oral answers to questions
What recent assessment he has made of trends in the take-up of vocational training.
Subjects
Training; Take-up
Date
26 July 2007
Reference
463 c1048
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
The hon. Gentleman has had a long interest in such issues, particularly in relation to the manufacturing industry, and he makes an important point. However, as he will have heard in the earlier question session, that is precisely why the new diploma for engineering was unveiled this week and why another four diplomas will be published in the next couple of weeks. We want the option of taking a diploma, starting at the age of 14, to be seen as a valid route for young people. I do not want us to lose sight of the importance of apprenticeships, either. The noble Lord Leitch set a target for the United Kingdom of 500,000 people in apprenticeships by 2020. Apprenticeships should also be seen as a relevant, valid and valued choice for young people.
The hon. Gentleman has had a long interest in such issues, particularly in relation to the manufacturing industry, and he makes an important point. However, as he will have heard in the earlier question session, that is precisely why the new diploma for engineering was unveiled this week and why another four diplomas will be published in the next couple of weeks. We want the option of taking a diploma, starting at the age of 14, to be seen as a valid route for young people. I do not want us to lose sight of the importance of apprenticeships, either. The noble Lord Leitch set a target for the United Kingdom of 500,000 people in apprenticeships by 2020. Apprenticeships should also be seen as a relevant, valid and valued choice for young people.
Answered by
John Denham
(Labour)
Asked by
Nicholas Winterton
(Conservative)
Answering body
Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills
Type
Oral answers to questions
I am grateful to the Secretary of State for that reasonable and helpful reply. Does he not accept, however, that once the basics of education—reading, writing, numeracy, expression and comprehension—have been fully grasped by young people, it would be better to introduce vocational training much earlier in education? That would give them a real motivation and a real sense of what they might want to do when they go into the world of work.
Subjects
Training; Take-up
Date
26 July 2007
Reference
463 c1048
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply, which is still very disappointing, as in November 2005 there were six commonholds, which the Government admitted themselves was an abysmal number, and it was part of the Labour Party manifesto at the 2005 General Election. It gives people a better way in which to own their homes.
In answer to my Question in November I was told: "““The Government are absolutely committed to commonhold. We shall investigate why progress is so slow and report back to the House early in the new year””.—[Official Report, 22/11/05; col. 1496.]"
I am not aware of any report back. Can the Minister confirm whether we ever got a report back, or has this just been lying idle since 2005?
My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply, which is still very disappointing, as in November 2005 there were six commonholds, which the Government admitted themselves was an abysmal number, and it was part of the Labour Party manifesto at the 2005 General Election. It gives people a better way in which to own their homes.
In answer to my Question in November I was told: "““The Government are absolutely committed to commonhold. We shall investigate why progress is so slow and report back to the House early in the new year””.—[Official Report, 22/11/05; col. 1496.]"
I am not aware of any report back. Can the Minister confirm whether we ever got a report back, or has this just been lying idle since 2005?
Asked by
Baroness Gardner of Parkes
(Conservative)
Oral questions - 1st Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
26 July 2007
My Lords, the noble Baroness is right in suggesting that progress has been disappointing. We have not yet brought a report back to Parliament. What has been decided is that, because of the disappointing progress, a consultation should take place later in the year with the key parties interested in commonhold to see what we can do to improve take-up of what I agree with her is a very desirable option.
Subjects
Commonhold; Registration; Take-up; Greater London; Olympic Games; Property development
Date
26 July 2007
Reference
694 c908
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
I am grateful to the Secretary of State for that reasonable and helpful reply. Does he not accept, however, that once the basics of education—reading, writing, numeracy, expression and comprehension—have been fully grasped by young people, it would be better to introduce vocational training much earlier in education? That would give them a real motivation and a real sense of what they might want to do when they go into the world of work.
I am grateful to the Secretary of State for that reasonable and helpful reply. Does he not accept, however, that once the basics of education—reading, writing, numeracy, expression and comprehension—have been fully grasped by young people, it would be better to introduce vocational training much earlier in education? That would give them a real motivation and a real sense of what they might want to do when they go into the world of work.
Asked by
Nicholas Winterton
(Conservative)
Answering body
Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills
Oral questions - 1st Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
26 July 2007
The hon. Gentleman has had a long interest in such issues, particularly in relation to the manufacturing industry, and he makes an important point. However, as he will have heard in the earlier question session, that is precisely why the new diploma for engineering was unveiled this week and why another four diplomas will be published in the next couple of weeks. We want the option of taking a diploma, starting at the age of 14, to be seen as a valid route for young people. I do not want us to lose sight of the importance of apprenticeships, either. The noble Lord Leitch set a target for the United Kingdom of 500,000 people in apprenticeships by 2020. Apprenticeships should also be seen as a relevant, valid and valued choice for young people.
Subjects
Apprentices; Training; Young people; Vocational education; Take-up
Date
26 July 2007
Reference
463 c1048
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
What recent assessment he has made of trends in the take-up of vocational training.
What recent assessment he has made of trends in the take-up of vocational training.
Asked by
Nicholas Winterton
(Conservative)
Answered by
John Denham
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills
Oral questions - Lead
Status
Answered
Tabled on
23 July 2007
For answer on
26 July 2007
Answered on
26 July 2007
I can report that the latest figures show that the number of national and Scottish vocational qualifications awarded continues to rise, up 36 per cent. since 1997. Our wider strategy for vocational training was set out in ““World Class Skills””, the Command Paper published last week.
Subjects
Training; Take-up
Date
26 July 2007
Reference
463 c1048; 152572
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the assumed benefit take-up rate in the public expenditure plans for (a) child benefit; (b) pension credit; (c) working tax credit; (d) council tax benefit; and (e) housing benefit.
asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the assumed benefit take-up rate in the public expenditure plans for (a) child benefit; (b) pension credit; (c) working tax credit; (d) council tax benefit; and (e) housing benefit.
Asked by
Lord Bradley
(Labour)
Answered by
Lord Davies of Oldham
(Labour)
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Answered on
18 July 2007
Forecasts of expenditure on tax credits and child benefit are based on caseload rather than take-up forecasts.
Forecasts of pension credit expenditure are based on forecast increases in the pension credit caseload, driven primarily by growth in the estimated entitled population.
Forecasts of housing benefit and council tax benefit expenditure are based on forecast changes in housing benefit caseload and average awards. The caseload forecasts are driven primarily by changes in the estimated recipient populations for other benefits to which entitlement to housing benefits is related. There are no direct assumptions made for changes in the take-up of housing benefits. If necessary, off-model caseload adjustments are used to reflect the impact on take-up of future policy changes.
Subjects
Council tax benefits; Child benefit; Housing benefit; Forecasts; Pension credit; Public expenditure; Working tax credit; Take-up
Date
18 July 2007
Reference
4703; 694 c23WA
House
House of Lords
To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of children in English schools took school meals in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.
To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of children in English schools took school meals in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.
Asked by
David Laws
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Lord Brennan of Canton
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Children, Schools and Families
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
9 July 2007
For answer on
11 July 2007
Answered on
18 July 2007
Information on the quality, availability and uptake of school meals is not held centrally. However, data from the school census shows the proportion taking free school meals as at January 2007 was 13.1 per cent. in maintained nursery and primary schools and 9.6 per cent. in maintained secondary schools. This compares with 13.3 per cent. and 9.9 per cent. respectively for January 2006. Figures for earlier years cannot be provided due to time constraints.Also, figures from the School Food Trust’s 2006 annual survey of school meals take-up in England showed that take-up of school meals in 2005-06 was 42.3 per cent. in primary schools and 42.7 per cent. in secondary schools. Findings from the 2007 survey will be available in August.
Subjects
School meals; Take-up
Date
18 July 2007
Reference
149118; 463 c421-2W
House
House of Commons
I of course welcome the right hon. Gentleman to his new job and wish him well in his post. It will be fun shadowing someone with whom I am actually on speaking terms—[Interruption]—for the moment, at least. Unlike most Chancellors, he cannot blame his predecessor for the undoubted mess that he has inherited, and there is no greater mess than the tax credits system and its administration. Will he confirm that the figures that he published 30 minutes ago show that that in 2005-06, the last year for which the Inland Revenue has published figures, it overpaid £1.7 billion of taxpayers’ money and underpaid £549 million. That is well over £2 billion in mistaken payments that bring hardship to many hundreds of thousands of families, and, of course, cost the taxpayer dearly. Does the Chancellor accept, in his second week in the job, that that is a totally unacceptable scandal? Will he promise that the level of error and fraud will be reduced while he is Chancellor?
I of course welcome the right hon. Gentleman to his new job and wish him well in his post. It will be fun shadowing someone with whom I am actually on speaking terms—[Interruption]—for the moment, at least. Unlike most Chancellors, he cannot blame his predecessor for the undoubted mess that he has inherited, and there is no greater mess than the tax credits system and its administration. Will he confirm that the figures that he published 30 minutes ago show that that in 2005-06, the last year for which the Inland Revenue has published figures, it overpaid £1.7 billion of taxpayers’ money and underpaid £549 million. That is well over £2 billion in mistaken payments that bring hardship to many hundreds of thousands of families, and, of course, cost the taxpayer dearly. Does the Chancellor accept, in his second week in the job, that that is a totally unacceptable scandal? Will he promise that the level of error and fraud will be reduced while he is Chancellor?
Asked by
George Osborne
(Conservative)
Answering body
Treasury
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
12 July 2007
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his good wishes. May I congratulate him, too, on holding on to his position? I see that there was some speculation as to whether he would be moved, but I am glad to see him here. I hope that we shall remain on speaking terms—we shall try for the next 50 minutes or so and see how we get on.
On the hon. Gentleman’s point about tax credits, of course it is unacceptable to have such high levels of error. Following the introduction of tax credits, I can well see how those errors arose, especially with a system that allows for annual assessment, and when there are many families whose incomes and circumstances may change quite a lot during that period. However, as a constituency MP, I know, as I am sure that most hon. Members will know, that we all have cases in our constituencies where things have gone wrong and the sums have added up very quickly, and that clearly causes distress. As I said a few moments ago, just as with the social security errors of a decade ago, so with tax credits. We need to do everything we can to reduce those errors. I still think that it is better to model the system on the tax system, and try to work on an annual basis, rather than moving to a far more complex system of assessment. However, the hon. Gentleman is quite right: we need to get the levels of error down and ensure that the right sums are being paid to the right people.
Subjects
Administration; Fraud; Overpayments; Social security; Welfare tax credits; Eligibility; Income tax; Low incomes; Tax rates and bands; Take-up
Date
12 July 2007
Reference
462 c1591-2
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
I, too, welcome my right hon. Friend back to the Treasury; what goes around comes around, in that respect. Does he agree that the tax credit system is an integral part of the campaign to abolish child poverty by 2020, as we can all see that it is having an effect in our constituencies? Does he also agree that the target date of 2020 is a crucial part of that strategy, and that it is the absence of such a date and such a determination from the social policy document that the Conservatives published this week that shows that they are dealing in words and not deeds when it comes to tackling poverty?
I, too, welcome my right hon. Friend back to the Treasury; what goes around comes around, in that respect. Does he agree that the tax credit system is an integral part of the campaign to abolish child poverty by 2020, as we can all see that it is having an effect in our constituencies? Does he also agree that the target date of 2020 is a crucial part of that strategy, and that it is the absence of such a date and such a determination from the social policy document that the Conservatives published this week that shows that they are dealing in words and not deeds when it comes to tackling poverty?
Asked by
Tom Levitt
(Labour)
Answering body
Treasury
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
12 July 2007
I thank my hon. Friend for his kind remarks. I know that he has been extremely concerned over many years in the House to ensure that the Government meet their ambitions to eradicate poverty, especially child poverty and pensioner poverty, which is also important. The fact that we have been able to lift children and pensioners out of poverty over the years, through tax credits and other measures, is important. The key thing to keep at the front of our minds is that if the Government are serious about tackling poverty, we must be prepared to spend sufficient resources to do it. There are huge question marks over the Conservatives in that regard, as I was starting to say a moment ago—but you will be relieved to hear that I will not continue with that line just yet, Mr. Speaker.
Subjects
Children; Pensioners; Poverty; Social security; Welfare tax credits; Eligibility; Income tax; Low incomes; Tax rates and bands; Take-up
Date
12 July 2007
Reference
462 c1593
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
I thank the Chancellor for that answer, but, to be honest, he did not actually respond to the question that I asked. Will he make a commitment that during his time as Chancellor he will reduce the levels of error and fraud? I say that because, as he will have read, the Comptroller and Auditor General’s report, which is part of the HMRC accounts, says that there is currently no evidence to demonstrate that there will be lower figures in the next published year. Indeed, the report also shows that the Treasury is still trying to collect almost £4 billion of overpayments from people out there in our constituencies, and that it has given up on £1.6 billion altogether. I therefore put the question to the Chancellor again. Does he believe that during his time as Chancellor he will be able to reduce the totally unacceptable levels of error and fraud, which cause hardship to so many of the people whom we represent?
I thank the Chancellor for that answer, but, to be honest, he did not actually respond to the question that I asked. Will he make a commitment that during his time as Chancellor he will reduce the levels of error and fraud? I say that because, as he will have read, the Comptroller and Auditor General’s report, which is part of the HMRC accounts, says that there is currently no evidence to demonstrate that there will be lower figures in the next published year. Indeed, the report also shows that the Treasury is still trying to collect almost £4 billion of overpayments from people out there in our constituencies, and that it has given up on £1.6 billion altogether. I therefore put the question to the Chancellor again. Does he believe that during his time as Chancellor he will be able to reduce the totally unacceptable levels of error and fraud, which cause hardship to so many of the people whom we represent?
Asked by
George Osborne
(Conservative)
Answering body
Treasury
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
12 July 2007
As I have said, I think that the level of error is too high and I want to see it reduced. That will take time, as I know from my experience in dealing with jobseeker’s allowance eight or nine years ago. However, as I said to the Chairman of the Select Committee, my right hon. Friend the Member for West Dunbartonshire (John McFall), those error rates, which had stood at 13 per cent. during the last year of the Conservative Government, came down to 5 per cent., and we must apply the same pressure in relation to tax credits. We need to deal with that, but we also need to keep in the front of our minds the benefits that tax credits can bring. I hope that when the hon. Gentleman next gets to his feet, he will tell us whether he supports tax credits—because, as with so many other aspects of Tory tax policy, it is not entirely clear what the Opposition’s policy is on this, especially when they have made commitments to abolish inheritance tax, to reduce corporation tax by 1 per cent., to get rid of stamp duty—
You have got my drift, Mr. Speaker.
Subjects
Fraud; Overpayments; Social security; Welfare tax credits; Eligibility; Income tax; Low incomes; Tax rates and bands; Take-up
Date
12 July 2007
Reference
462 c1592-3
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
I welcome my hon. Friend to her new post; her promotion is as welcome as it is overdue. Labour Members put the interests of children first, and children of the poorest families are our highest priority. With that in mind, will my hon. Friend tell me what proportion of low-income families with children have taken up tax credits?
I welcome my hon. Friend to her new post; her promotion is as welcome as it is overdue. Labour Members put the interests of children first, and children of the poorest families are our highest priority. With that in mind, will my hon. Friend tell me what proportion of low-income families with children have taken up tax credits?
Asked by
Emily Thornberry
(Labour)
Answering body
Treasury
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
12 July 2007
My understanding is that the take-up of tax credits by low-income families with children is very high—the proportion is in the high 90 per cent. range. I thank my hon. Friend for her generous welcome to me.
Subjects
Children; Low incomes; Welfare tax credits; Take-up; Disposable income
Date
12 July 2007
Reference
462 c1600
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Have not tax credits proved a valuable way of taking families, and particularly children, out of poverty? Will they not prove to be more effective than, say, offering £20 a week for couples to get married and stay married?
Have not tax credits proved a valuable way of taking families, and particularly children, out of poverty? Will they not prove to be more effective than, say, offering £20 a week for couples to get married and stay married?
Asked by
Paddy Tipping
(Labour)
Answering body
Treasury
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
12 July 2007
I agree with my hon. Friend. The married couples allowance was steadily reduced under the previous Government. Indeed, it was Lord Lamont who did that, and at the time he was being advised by somebody—I think that it might have been the Leader of the Opposition. The problem is that the married couples allowance throws up all sorts of anomalies. For example, if the husband in a couple is killed in a tragic road accident, his widow and children will be left without support—so when we think through the consequence, we see that it bringing back the allowance is not the right thing to do. Helping families with children, and the fact that the working families tax credit has lifted more than 600,000 children out of poverty, are things that we should keep in the front of our minds. All of us in the House say that we are concerned about cutting child poverty, and we have a target to do so. Our measures have helped to lift 600,000 children out of poverty, and that is why tax credits are so important to us.
Subjects
Children; Poverty; Married people; Social security; Welfare tax credits; Working tax credit; Tax allowances; Eligibility; Income tax; Low incomes; Tax rates and bands; Take-up
Date
12 July 2007
Reference
462 c1591
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
The Institute for Fiscal Studies is hardly a cheerleader for our party, but its assessment of the Budget in this regard is broadly very positive indeed. The IFS indicated that of the 10 deciles of income where it had assessed the impact the lowest two had benefited most from the changes. However, will the Chancellor respond to the IFS’s one observation of concern, which is that those who lost out due to the changes were disproportionately low-earning, single people, with no dependent children? Will he promote take-up—
The Institute for Fiscal Studies is hardly a cheerleader for our party, but its assessment of the Budget in this regard is broadly very positive indeed. The IFS indicated that of the 10 deciles of income where it had assessed the impact the lowest two had benefited most from the changes. However, will the Chancellor respond to the IFS’s one observation of concern, which is that those who lost out due to the changes were disproportionately low-earning, single people, with no dependent children? Will he promote take-up—
Asked by
David Leslie Taylor
(Labour; Co-operative Party)
Answering body
Treasury
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
12 July 2007
I agree with the point that my hon. Friend made in relation to the IFS, which was extremely complimentary about the budget changes; but of course, I recognise what he said. The former Chancellor increased the threshold for working tax credit. He increased the child tax credit itself, which will help us to take 200,000 children out of poverty. We increased the age allowance, so low-income pensioners over the age of 65 will be no worse off and 580,000 will be removed from tax altogether. As my hon. Friend has said, the IFS showed that the biggest proportion of gainers are those at the lower end of the income distribution, which stands in stark contradiction to what the Liberals are proposing today.
Subjects
Children; Pensioners; Low incomes; Social security; Welfare tax credits; Single people; Eligibility; Income tax; Tax rates and bands; Take-up
Date
12 July 2007
Reference
462 c1604
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
I thank my right hon. Friend for his good wishes. He has done some excellent work as Chairman of the Select Committee in the past few years and I look forward—if that is the right phrase—to appearing before him and the Committee at some stage.
Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs report was published this morning. I wrote to Opposition spokesmen, and I hope that they got the report. It was due to be published this afternoon, but I thought—not necessarily to my advantage, because of the NAO’s comments—that it might be better to draw it to their attention. I am concerned about the extent of error in the system. My right hon. Friend asked about JSA, which was introduced in the mid-1990s. The error rate then was approximately 13 per cent. and it has now decreased to about 5 per cent. I well remember, from my time as Secretary of State with responsibility for social security, that error in the social security system is a problem, although, after years of bearing down on it, we are beginning to see some results.
Let me revert to the central point. The tax credit system, like the tax system, operates on a basis of annual assessment. We set it up that way so that it would be flexible, and people would not be subjected to weekly income tests as they are in most parts of the social security system. There were inevitably some administrative problems following its introduction—we are all aware of that. They need to be sorted out, and they will be sorted out. However, it is important to keep sight of the fact that tax credits have benefited nearly 20 million families, and that many people with children are much better off as a result of our actions. There are times when I wonder whether the Opposition are against tax credits themselves, rather than being concerned about errors in the system.
I thank my right hon. Friend for his good wishes. He has done some excellent work as Chairman of the Select Committee in the past few years and I look forward—if that is the right phrase—to appearing before him and the Committee at some stage.
Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs report was published this morning. I wrote to Opposition spokesmen, and I hope that they got the report. It was due to be published this afternoon, but I thought—not necessarily to my advantage, because of the NAO’s comments—that it might be better to draw it to their attention. I am concerned about the extent of error in the system. My right hon. Friend asked about JSA, which was introduced in the mid-1990s. The error rate then was approximately 13 per cent. and it has now decreased to about 5 per cent. I well remember, from my time as Secretary of State with responsibility for social security, that error in the social security system is a problem, although, after years of bearing down on it, we are beginning to see some results.
Let me revert to the central point. The tax credit system, like the tax system, operates on a basis of annual assessment. We set it up that way so that it would be flexible, and people would not be subjected to weekly income tests as they are in most parts of the social security system. There were inevitably some administrative problems following its introduction—we are all aware of that. They need to be sorted out, and they will be sorted out. However, it is important to keep sight of the fact that tax credits have benefited nearly 20 million families, and that many people with children are much better off as a result of our actions. There are times when I wonder whether the Opposition are against tax credits themselves, rather than being concerned about errors in the system.
Answered by
Lord Darling of Roulanish
(Labour)
Asked by
Lord McFall of Alcluith
(Labour)
Answering body
Treasury
Type
Oral answers to questions
I welcome the Chancellor to his new position and wish him every success, for the country’s sake.
My right hon. Friend knows that the Treasury Committee is interested in errors and fraud in the tax credit system. This morning he sent me, and others, a letter detailing the credit and working tax credit error and fraud statistics. The Select Committee does not condone any fraud in the system, but we want to know whether the Government have made progress in ensuring that there is less fraud. My right hon. Friend mentioned jobseeker’s allowance. Has any improvement been made in the past 10 or 12 years on reducing fraud?
Subjects
Eligibility; Income tax; Low incomes; Social security; Welfare tax credits; Tax rates and bands; Take-up
Date
12 July 2007
Reference
462 c1590
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
As I have said, I think that the level of error is too high and I want to see it reduced. That will take time, as I know from my experience in dealing with jobseeker’s allowance eight or nine years ago. However, as I said to the Chairman of the Select Committee, my right hon. Friend the Member for West Dunbartonshire (John McFall), those error rates, which had stood at 13 per cent. during the last year of the Conservative Government, came down to 5 per cent., and we must apply the same pressure in relation to tax credits. We need to deal with that, but we also need to keep in the front of our minds the benefits that tax credits can bring. I hope that when the hon. Gentleman next gets to his feet, he will tell us whether he supports tax credits—because, as with so many other aspects of Tory tax policy, it is not entirely clear what the Opposition’s policy is on this, especially when they have made commitments to abolish inheritance tax, to reduce corporation tax by 1 per cent., to get rid of stamp duty—
You have got my drift, Mr. Speaker.
As I have said, I think that the level of error is too high and I want to see it reduced. That will take time, as I know from my experience in dealing with jobseeker’s allowance eight or nine years ago. However, as I said to the Chairman of the Select Committee, my right hon. Friend the Member for West Dunbartonshire (John McFall), those error rates, which had stood at 13 per cent. during the last year of the Conservative Government, came down to 5 per cent., and we must apply the same pressure in relation to tax credits. We need to deal with that, but we also need to keep in the front of our minds the benefits that tax credits can bring. I hope that when the hon. Gentleman next gets to his feet, he will tell us whether he supports tax credits—because, as with so many other aspects of Tory tax policy, it is not entirely clear what the Opposition’s policy is on this, especially when they have made commitments to abolish inheritance tax, to reduce corporation tax by 1 per cent., to get rid of stamp duty—
You have got my drift, Mr. Speaker.
Answered by
Lord Darling of Roulanish
(Labour)
Asked by
George Osborne
(Conservative)
Answering body
Treasury
Type
Oral answers to questions
I thank the Chancellor for that answer, but, to be honest, he did not actually respond to the question that I asked. Will he make a commitment that during his time as Chancellor he will reduce the levels of error and fraud? I say that because, as he will have read, the Comptroller and Auditor General’s report, which is part of the HMRC accounts, says that there is currently no evidence to demonstrate that there will be lower figures in the next published year. Indeed, the report also shows that the Treasury is still trying to collect almost £4 billion of overpayments from people out there in our constituencies, and that it has given up on £1.6 billion altogether. I therefore put the question to the Chancellor again. Does he believe that during his time as Chancellor he will be able to reduce the totally unacceptable levels of error and fraud, which cause hardship to so many of the people whom we represent?
Subjects
Eligibility; Income tax; Low incomes; Social security; Welfare tax credits; Tax rates and bands; Take-up
Date
12 July 2007
Reference
462 c1592-3
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his good wishes. I do not know when the honeymoon will come to end; in fact, I think that it has come to an end already—but I thank him all the same. Of course I am willing to look at the application forms for tax credits, but he will appreciate that the simpler a form can be, the more difficulty that can raise later on. I have no doubt that he will focus on that possibility today, because of an apparently simplistic promise to cut income tax by 4p, which would cost him nearly £19 billion. He will find it quite hard to explain how he is going to fill that gap—to do so through fuel duty, for example, would mean something like 39p a litre on fuel. I look forward to hearing how the Liberal Democrats are going to explain their tax changes, and who will lose and who will gain.
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his good wishes. I do not know when the honeymoon will come to end; in fact, I think that it has come to an end already—but I thank him all the same. Of course I am willing to look at the application forms for tax credits, but he will appreciate that the simpler a form can be, the more difficulty that can raise later on. I have no doubt that he will focus on that possibility today, because of an apparently simplistic promise to cut income tax by 4p, which would cost him nearly £19 billion. He will find it quite hard to explain how he is going to fill that gap—to do so through fuel duty, for example, would mean something like 39p a litre on fuel. I look forward to hearing how the Liberal Democrats are going to explain their tax changes, and who will lose and who will gain.
Answered by
Lord Darling of Roulanish
(Labour)
Asked by
Vincent Cable
(Liberal Democrat)
Answering body
Treasury
Type
Oral answers to questions
I, too, welcome the Chancellor, and I hope that he enjoys his honeymoon—until the day that he has to say no to the Prime Minister. If the Government are so keen to encourage the take-up of the working tax credit, which is as low as 25 per cent. for childless couples, why are people expected to fill in a 10-page form, with 57 questions and 60 pages of explanatory notes, compared with the user-friendly four-page note that is required to get non-domiciled tax status? Why do the Government make it so difficult for poorer people to claim entitlements and so easy for rich people to avoid paying tax?
Subjects
Eligibility; Income tax; Low incomes; Social security; Welfare tax credits; Tax rates and bands; Take-up
Date
12 July 2007
Reference
462 c1590-1
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
I thank my hon. Friend for his kind remarks. I know that he has been extremely concerned over many years in the House to ensure that the Government meet their ambitions to eradicate poverty, especially child poverty and pensioner poverty, which is also important. The fact that we have been able to lift children and pensioners out of poverty over the years, through tax credits and other measures, is important. The key thing to keep at the front of our minds is that if the Government are serious about tackling poverty, we must be prepared to spend sufficient resources to do it. There are huge question marks over the Conservatives in that regard, as I was starting to say a moment ago—but you will be relieved to hear that I will not continue with that line just yet, Mr. Speaker.
I thank my hon. Friend for his kind remarks. I know that he has been extremely concerned over many years in the House to ensure that the Government meet their ambitions to eradicate poverty, especially child poverty and pensioner poverty, which is also important. The fact that we have been able to lift children and pensioners out of poverty over the years, through tax credits and other measures, is important. The key thing to keep at the front of our minds is that if the Government are serious about tackling poverty, we must be prepared to spend sufficient resources to do it. There are huge question marks over the Conservatives in that regard, as I was starting to say a moment ago—but you will be relieved to hear that I will not continue with that line just yet, Mr. Speaker.
Answered by
Lord Darling of Roulanish
(Labour)
Asked by
Tom Levitt
(Labour)
Answering body
Treasury
Type
Oral answers to questions
I, too, welcome my right hon. Friend back to the Treasury; what goes around comes around, in that respect. Does he agree that the tax credit system is an integral part of the campaign to abolish child poverty by 2020, as we can all see that it is having an effect in our constituencies? Does he also agree that the target date of 2020 is a crucial part of that strategy, and that it is the absence of such a date and such a determination from the social policy document that the Conservatives published this week that shows that they are dealing in words and not deeds when it comes to tackling poverty?
Subjects
Eligibility; Income tax; Low incomes; Social security; Welfare tax credits; Tax rates and bands; Take-up
Date
12 July 2007
Reference
462 c1593
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons