To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many new claims for tax credits have been made in each of the last 24 months. (241467)

For information up to and including September 2008 I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Wealden (Charles Hendry) on 27 October 2008, Official Report, column 792W. The number of new claims received by household in October and November 2008 was 125,757 and 113,259 respectively.