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Welfare Tax Credits

Volume 503: debated on Wednesday 13 January 2010

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what the largest sum of tax credits paid retrospectively to an individual or couple was (a) in 2009, (b) in 2008 and (c) since tax credits were introduced; (308105)

(2) what the (a) average and (b) highest number of tax credits cheques sent to a unique claimant was in the course of (i) one year and (ii) one month in (A) 2005-06, (B) 2006-07, (C) 2007-08 and (D) 2008-09.

The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost, given the work needed to extract this from the tax credits computer system.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many contacts were made on average by (a) all claimants and (b) citizens of A8 and A2 countries to the Tax Credits Office in applying for tax credit in cases where the application was subsequently withdrawn in (i) 2005-06, (ii) 2006-07, (iii) 2007-08 and (iv) 2008-09; (309787)

(2) what record his Department holds of the (a) largest and (b) average number of contacts made by applicants for tax credit to the Tax Credits Office in (i) the last 12 months and (ii) January (A) 2005-06, (B) 2006-07, (C) 2007-08 and (D) 2008-09.

The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost, as HM Revenue and Customs would need to interrogate individual claimants' records manually to establish this.