To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) men and (b) women in Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk constituency were in receipt of tax credit at (i) 30 December 2005, (ii) 30 March 2006, (iii) 30 June 2006 and (iv) 30 September 2006. (101389)

The information is not available for the dates requested. The following table shows the estimate number of (a) men and (b) women in Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk who were claimants in in-work families with tax credits awards in payment at 5 December 2005 and 3 April 2006.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax credit renewals were outstanding in each month since April 2005. (102099)

The deadline for renewals was 30 September in 2005 and 31 August in 2006.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax credit compliance team staff there were in each year since 2001-02; and if he will make a statement. (102101)

Full-time equivalent claimant compliance staffing figures are:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of individuals involved in large scale attempts to defraud the tax credits system. (102102)

HMRC successfully prevent many false claims going into payment, but it is not possible to estimate how many people may be involved in such attempts.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the tax credits computer system software was last updated; and if he will make a statement. (102355)

The tax credit system is improved on a cycle of updates. The most recent update was 30 October 2006.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how calls between tax credits helpline callers and HM Revenue and Customs are (a) recorded and (b) archived; how many people are employed in such processes; and if he will make a statement. (102366)

All calls to the tax credits helpline are automatically digitally recorded and archived. There is no direct staff involvement.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many cases of tax credit fraud involving (a) giro cheques and (b) fake giro cheques his Department has investigated; (102400)

HMRC takes fraud very seriously and has a range of checks in place to identify fraud. HMRC do not keep separate statistics of fraud involving giro cheques.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many claimants received giro cheques for (a) regular and (b) exceptional payment of tax credits in each of the last four years. (102402)

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his Department’s policy of distributing tax credits by giro cheque. (102648)

The information is not available in the format requested.

HM Revenue and Customs issue automated cash cheque payments in circumstances where it is not possible to pay tax credits into a bank, building society or Post Office Card Account.

Cash cheque payments are also made manually, in exceptional circumstances, to prevent hardship, or where a claimant is temporarily out of payment.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in the Beverley and Holderness constituency are in receipt of tax credits; how many receive tax credits by giro cheque; and if he will make a statement. (102649)

Estimates for 2003-04 and 2004-05 of the numbers of in-work families with tax credits awards by constituency, based on final family circumstances and incomes for 2003-04 and 2004-05 are published in “Child and Working Tax Credits. Finalised Awards 2003-04 Geographical Analysis” and the “Child and Working Tax Credits. Finalised Awards 2004-05 Geographical Analysis”. These publications and provisional estimates for the number of in-work families by constituency with tax credit awards as at selected dates in 2005-06 are available on the HMRC website at:

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-stats.htm.

Information on number of people, in the constituency of Beverley and Holderness, who are receiving tax credits by giro cheque is not available except at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many compensation payments for maladministration and poor service were made by the tax credits section of his Department in each month from May 2006 to October 2006; what the total value of such payments was in each quarter since 1 April 2003; and if he will make a statement. (103991)

The circumstances in which HM Revenue and Customs will make compensation payments to its customers are explained in the Department's Code of Practice 1 “Putting things right” which is available at www.hmrc.gov.uk. The Department will pay compensation for reasonable costs incurred as a direct result of its mistakes or delays and to recognise worry and distress caused by those mistakes and delays. It does not keep separate details of compensation payments made specifically due to “maladministration” or “poor service”.