Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they expect net savings to the public purse in 2016–17 from the removal of the family element in tax credits and the first child premium in Universal Credit, taking into account any other benefits that would become payable by local authorities as a result of those changes.

The estimated net savings from the removal of the family element in tax credits and Universal Credit, and the family premium in Housing Benefit, for new claims in 2016-17 is £55 million, as detailed in the Government’s summer budget 2015: policy costings publication.

The estimated net savings from limiting the child element to 2 children for new births in tax credits and new claims in UC in 2017-18 is £315 million.