Falkirk West MP, Eric Joyce, and Chancellor Gordon Brown MP today launched a local campaign to encourage families and all working people in Falkirk West to claim the Labour Governments new Tax Credits.

From April next year, the current tax credits that already help so many families across Falkirk West, will be replaced with the Child Tax Credit and the Working Tax Credit. The new Tax Credits will mean a more streamlined and improved system and will extend help to people who currently do not qualify.

For the first time, student nurses and students will qualify because the new Child Tax Credit is not dependent on being in paid work. More low paid workers will get extra help because the Working Tax Credit is not dependent on having children unlike the Working Families Tax Credit.

Speaking today, Eric Joyce MP said

‘I am delighted to be joined by Gordon Brown in encouraging families and workers in Falkirk West to claim the extra help they can get from Labour's new Tax Credits.

Since 1997, Labour has supported families and made work pay through the National Minimum Wage, Working Families Tax Credit and Children's Tax Credit all on top of record increases in child benefit. The new Tax Credits build on this success by making the current system easier for families, employees and employers.

The new Tax Credits will reach further. For the first time, workers on lower incomes without children will now get help through the Working Tax Credit. Families not currently eligible for Working Families Tax Credit will now also get help through the Child Tax Credit, for example, student nurses will now, for the first time, get around £38 a week Child Tax Credit.

Gordon and I have taken up this campaign locally to encourage families and workers in Falkirk West to apply for the new Tax Credits. To find out if you qualify for the new Tax Credits simply call the helpline on 0800 500 222.'