Posted: 09.10.2007
Immediate Release

Following today's critical report into Tax Credits by the Parliamentary Ombudsman, One Parent Families Scotland have called for a major overhaul to the Tax Credit system.

"We need a simpler and fairer way of supporting families on low wages", comments Ian Maxwell, Associate Director of One Parent Families Scotland.

"We know from callers to our Lone Parent Help-line that Tax Credits are too complicated, that the paperwork is often difficult to understand, and the Tax Credit Helpline often fails to give correct answers to the more complicated questions."

"Tax Credits aren't 'fatally flawed', but unless the Government owns up to these problems and sorts them out quickly, lone parents who could use these extra payments to return to work will be deterred from even thinking about employment."

The Lone Parent Helpline is on 0808 808 0323.

The Parliamentary ombudsman's report is at www.ombudsman.org.uk/news

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For further comment, contact Ian Maxwell on 07887 500 667.

Any lone parents who wish to comment on this story, please email comments to info@opfs.org.uk.

Notes to Editors:

One Parent Families Scotland is a national organisation representing the 150,000 lone parents in Scotland. As well as operating the lone parent helpline in association with One Plus and One Parent Families, it produces a wide range of publications and runs local support and childcare services in various parts of Scotland.