Welfare Tax Credits: Foreigners

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his most recent estimate is of the monetary value of (a) working tax credit and (b) child tax credit paid to (i) non-British EU nationals resident in the UK, (ii) non-EU nationals resident in the UK, (iii) non-British EU nationals not resident in the UK and (iv) non-EU nationals not resident in the UK to date; and if he will make a statement. (320156)

[holding answer 3 March 2010]: The information requested is not available, as tax credit claimants' nationality is not recorded by HM Revenue and Customs.

Tax credits are intended to provide support to families with children and to those in low-paid work in the UK. Therefore eligibility for tax credits depends on the claimants being present and ordinarily resident in the UK. Child tax credit claimants must also have a right to reside in the UK.