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Written question asked by Terry Rooney (Labour) on Friday, 17 April 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 22 April 2009. It was answered by Baroness Ussher (Labour) on Monday, 18 May 2009 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Welfare Tax Credits: Lone Parents

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost would be of paying a work-related activity premium of (a) £10, (b) £20 and (c) £30 per week to lone parents with children aged under 7 years in 2009-10.
Answer

[holding answer 22 April 2009]: There are approximately 460,000 lone parents on income support with a youngest child under the age of seven.Assuming that this remains constant, the annual cost of paying all lone parents with a child aged under seven a work-related activity premium is in the table.

Cost of paying a work-related activity premium to all lone parents on income support with a youngest child under the age of seven
Work-related activity premium Annual cost (£ million)
£10 per week 240
£20 per week 480
£30 per week 720
Notes:
1. Costs are rounded to the nearest £5 million.
2. Costs depend upon case loads. The average number of lone parents on income support over the last year was 460,000, but higher numbers would mean higher costs, and vice versa.

As this is not Government policy these costs assume all lone parents with a youngest child under the age of seven receive a work-related activity premium.They reflect only the additional cost of paying the premium, and not any additional costs associated with ensuring additional provision is made available through, for example, the new deal for lone parents programme.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
492 c1206W; 270109
Session
2008-09
Subjects
Lone parents Welfare tax credits
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk