MISSING THOUSANDS ADD TO BENEFIT CONFUSION

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 8th May 2003

Conflicting Government figures point to confusion over whether 20,000 Scottish families will benefit from the new Child Tax Credit (CTC) introduced this April. On the 16th September 2002 the Chancellor said that the CTC would benefit 450,000 families in Scotland, yet on the 8th of April this year Helen Liddell put the figure at 430,00. To add to the confusion Jack O'Connell went back to the Chancellors estimate of 450,000 only ten days later.

Commenting on these figures John Thurso, Liberal Democrat spokesman for Scottish affairs said:

"The Government's handling of the introduction of the Child Tax Credit has been appalling. It is astounding that there is confusion over whether as many as 20,000 families in Scotland will be able to claim the new credit."

"The Inland Revenue say it is 'too early' to evaluate the introduction of new tax credits but there inability to even be able to calculate those eligible for the benefit indicates the shambles they are in. I have been inundated by queries from people who have not received their benefit, the Government itself admits that more than a million families who are not getting the payments they should. They have now passed their own 2nd May deadline and the Prime Minister should look into providing those who have not received their money with compensation."