Local MP, Gordon Prentice, is pressing the Shadow Chancellor, George Osborne, to clarify Conservative policy on Child Tax Credits.

At the Conservative Conference in October, Osborne pledged to get rid of Child Tax Credit for households on more than £50,000 a year in total, claiming this would raise £400 million.

However, analysis by the Work and Pensions Secretary, Yvette Cooper, shows that cutting Child Tax Credit for families on more than £50,000 would only raise £45 million. To raise £400 million they would need to cut it from a couple earning as little as £16,000 each - less than average earnings.

Speaking from Westminster, Prentice said: "10,400 families in Pendle receive Child Tax Credit and they must be very worried about what might be round the corner."

"We already know the Conservatives are promising an "age of austerity" - for some. They will freeze the salaries of everyone employed in the public sector who is earning £18,000 a year or more."

"This would hit around 22% of Lancashire people employed in the public sector."

Note to Editors: As of April 2009 there were an estimated 10,400  recipient families receiving Child Tax Credit (CTC) and Working Tax Credit (WTC) in the Pendle Constituency. 

Take-up rates of CTC and WTC are not available at constituency level. Regional  take-up rates are available for 2006/07. Take-up in the North West was estimated at 84%

Ends