Lamb Challenges Chancellor Over Tax Credit Shambles

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 30th Apr 2003

Norman Lamb, the Liberal Democrat MP for North Norfolk and member of the Treasury Select Committee, has challenged the Chancellor of the Exchequer over the shambolic introduction of the Government's new Child and Working Tax Credits.

Gordon Brown was giving evidence to the Treasury Select Committee about the Budget. During the hearing, Mr Lamb referred to one of his constituents who had received no payment since 8 April and had been unable to get any information from the Inland Revenue.

Commenting afterwards, Norman Lamb said: "My constituency office has been inundated by people complaining that the money they had expected from these tax credits hasn't come through, and that they have been experiencing impossible logjams on the telephone helpline number.

"The problems are most acute for those who were already in receipt of the Working Families Tax Credit, and who set their weekly budget on the basis of this income. When the money doesn't materialise, it can result in real financial difficulties."

Mr Lamb has also asked the Treasury Select Committee to consider requiring the Inland Revenue to attend a hearing and answer questions about this débâcle.