TAX CREDIT HELPLINE FAILINGS CONTINUE 'DEPRESSING' TREND FOR FAMILIES IN LEEDS NORTH WEST: MULHOLLAND

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 2nd Aug 2005

Over half of the 100 million calls made to the Government's tax credit helpline got an engaged tone or they abandoned the call while stuck in a queue waiting to speak to an adviser, according to newly released figures by the Liberal Democrats.

In 2003/04 the chances of getting through to the helpline were particularly low with three times as many people failing as succeeding - 117,000 calls a day failed or were abandoned. Despite having improved the service in 2004/05 so that only 1 in 10 calls were failing, performance in the first three months of 2005 has worsened so that twice as many are failing.

Figures revealed by Greg in June revealed that the average family in Leeds North West were set to pay back £889 each, due to overpayments being made. Over payments in Leeds North West alone totaled £1.6 million!

Works and Pensions Select Committee member, Greg Mulholland, MP for Leeds North West said:

"These figures are a disaster for the Revenue and continue a depressing trend.

"Only in June were families in my constituency left distraught with the prospect of having to repay £889 on average to the government due to overpayments.

"These new figures highlight the frustration that so many families in Leeds North West must still be feeling in having to deal with such a rollercoaster of assessments, reassessments, overpayments, and disputes over Revenue errors.

"So many telephone calls going unanswered certainly undermines the Revenue's attempt to resist the Ombudsman's call to write off overpayments arising from official error.

"With the possibility of over £1.6 million in overpayments being chased up by the government in Leeds North West alone, many families are still in a state of uncertainty and apprehensive about the future."

Following the revelations over the scale of overpayments in June, Greg called on the Minister to take responsibility for the continuing 'shambles'. Commenting at the time, Greg said:

"Dawn Primarolo's job is now on the line. She has been complacent about this problem and has taken too long to act. She must now take decisive action and accept the responsibility that comes with high office."