Concentrix: Tax Credit Claimants Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Concentrix: Tax Credit Claimants

Andrew Selous Excerpts
Tuesday 18th October 2016

(8 years, 2 months ago)

Westminster Hall
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Fiona Mactaggart Portrait Fiona Mactaggart
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My hon. Friend is absolutely right. One consequence for a number of children is that they have lost their entitlement to free school meals, so they have suffered doubly as a result of what has happened to them.

Andrew Selous Portrait Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire) (Con)
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The right hon. Lady is being extremely generous in giving way, and we are all grateful to her. I had a case in which a single mother was accused of living with a former tenant who had moved out in 2014. Does the right hon. Lady not agree that although issues must be investigated, to do so on the basis of allegation, without evidence, and to stop payment, is not really a satisfactory way for Concentrix or anyone else to operate?

Fiona Mactaggart Portrait Fiona Mactaggart
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The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. I will try to make some progress, so that he can see what I want to say about that kind of issue. Decisions were certainly made on the basis of inadequate evidence, in a way that I believe was actually illegal under the Tax Credits Act 2002, and should not have been permitted.