Clause 2 - Eligible children
Child Trust Funds Bill
2:30 pm
Ms Ruth Kelly (Financial Secretary, HM Treasury; Bolton West, Labour)
May I start by saying what a pleasure it is to welcome you to the Chair, Mr. Amess? I look forward very much to working with you as you steer our proceedings during the next few weeks.
It falls to me now to deal with amendments Nos. 7 and 163. The hon. Member for Angus (Mr. Weir) asked whether children whose parents have successfully claimed asylum in the United Kingdom will be eligible to the child trust fund. I assure him that such children will be eligible, and I wish to clarify the position of people seeking asylum. While an application for asylum is being considered, there is no entitlement to claim benefit, including child benefit. Children of parents in that position will not be eligible for the child trust fund.
However, when permission to remain definitely in the United Kingdom has been granted, people are entitled to claim benefits in the same way as British citizens. Parents who previously claimed asylum will be entitled to claim child benefit for their children, and those children will become eligible for the child trust fund, subject to other conditions being met such as the child being of the appropriate age. I trust that the hon. Gentleman is satisfied on that point. On the basis of my comments, I ask him and the hon. Member for Tatton (Mr. Osborne) not to press their amendments.