I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 53 together.
There were 13,129 persons in receipt of family income supplement at the end of October 2000. The average weekly payment was £40.61.
Data on the number of recipients who are employed in the civil or public service are not available.
A working group has been established under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness to examine the role which refundable tax credits can play in the tax and welfare systems. This examination will include the possibility of paying FIS through the tax system. The two issues are closely related since a substantial number of FIS claimants have income which comes below the tax exemption limits appropriate to their family size. In order for such families to benefit from a tax credits system the payment would have to take the form of a refundable tax credit.
The first meeting of the working group took place on 26 October. I understand that my Department provided the working group with a factual paper on the family income supplement scheme including relevant statistical data in order to inform their discussions.
The group agreed that initial discussions would focus on the broader issue, that is, the role which refundable tax credits can play in the tax and welfare systems. In this context, the Department of Finance and the Revenue Commissioners are to produce a joint paper documenting additional options proposed by the social partners at the last meeting, for possible payment via a refundable tax credit mechanism. The members of the working group, including the representatives of Government Departments, will be requested to provide views on this paper in the next phase of the deliberative process.
I look forward to seeing the progress report from the working group, which is due at the end of the year, and its final conclusions in due course. Obviously, measures which are capable of advancing the interests of low paid workers with families will be viewed positively by this Government.