Clause 11 - Maximum rate
Tax Credits Bill
4:15 pm
Ms Dawn Primarolo (Paymaster General, HM Treasury; Bristol South, Labour)
I may inadvertently, in trying to clarify, have first clarified and then confused the matter. The essential point that the hon. Members for Arundel and South Downs and for Northavon make relates to single people or couples without children and the additional adult allowance. The clause provides for an element to be added. Two elements are involved, for both of which the rate would have to be set. The first relates to a second adult. The other relates to lone parents and would recognise that some costs are fixed, regardless of whether there are two adults or one in the household.
The point that the hon. Gentlemen make relates to whether there is an additional adult allowance for couples without children. What the amendment would provide is already provided for in the clause. I presume that the hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs knew about the intention behind the amendment.