The controversial planned changes to benefits will not be brought back to Tynwald until May.

Treasury Minister Alfred Cannan withdrew the motions seeking approval to the changes to the Employed Person’s Allowance and income support, originally due to be tabled at this week’s Tynwald sitting.

He told members: ’We are not intending to come back with these proposals until May.’

Dr Alex Allinson (Ramsey) welcomed the move.

’I would like to thank the Treasury Minister for his honest and intelligent decision to withdraw the two motions today relating to EPA and Income Support for lone parents,’ he said.

According to Treasury figures, there are 1,143 families in receipt of employed person’s allowance. Of these, 755 are lone parents while 388 are couples with dependent children. The plan was to increase the number of hours worked by a lone parent, to be eligible for EPA, from 16 to 30 where the youngest child was older than 30.

Increases were also planned for couples, up to an aggregate 35 hours a week where the youngest child was under six, and to an aggregate of 60 hours per week where the youngest child was over 13.

There are 267 lone parents with at least one child under 12 who are receiving income support solely on account of their status as a lone parent. The planned change would reduce the age criteria to having at least one child under six.

Mr Cannan said: ’It may be the case that a very small number of lone parents with children less than 12 years old are receiving income support for a different reason - for example, on the basis they are incapacitated for work or are caring for a severely disabled person.’

There were 11 lone parents receiving Jobseekers’ Allowance.

The Treasury has estimated up to 90 lone parents and 35 couples could be affected by the proposed changes to EPA and about one third of lone parents on income support could lose benefits.

Mr Cannan said it was vital the government brought forward the ’right policies’ to help families as much as possible.

’It is important that we pursue policies that will benefit our lowest paid income earners across the board and in fact not only in the measures,’ he added.

As well increases to the mandatory minimum wage, Mr Cannan said other steps the government had taken included raising the personal tax threshold from £10,500 to its current rate £13,250.

He added: ’Like everything there is always a balance to be had and certainly when raising minimum wages and when looking at living wages one has to also ensure they are reasonable and fair and will not adversely affect the economy thereby reducing the numbers of jobs in the market.’