§ 6. Mr. Dingle Footasked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to the position of women who are within a few weeks of childbirth and who, being unemployed, are under the necessity of attending at the Employment Exchange to draw standard benefit or unemployment allowances; whether he is aware that, although such women are usually held to be capable of work, their chances of obtaining employment are very small; and whether he will consider, in collaboration with the Minister of Health and the Secretary of State for Scotland, the advisability of so amending the law that women within a month of childbirth shall be maintained from National Health Insurance funds?
§ Mr. E. BrownI have received representations from time to time upon this subject but the proposal which the hon. Member makes is a matter for my right hon. Friends the Minister of Health and the Secretary of State for Scotland rather than for me.
§ Mr. FootIs not the question directed to whether the right hon. Gentleman should consult with the Minister of Health and the Secretary of State for Scotland?
§ Mr. BrownThe hon. Gentleman will understand that the responsibility for any new proposals would be theirs, and that representations must be made, first of all, to them.
§ Sir Percy HarrisIs not the point at issue the necessity for these women attending the Employment Exchanges?
§ Mr. BrownThe issue really is whether these women can be maintained from National Health Insurance funds.
§ Mr. T. JohnstonIn view of the importance of this matter to large numbers of pregnant women in the industrial areas, will the right hon. Gentleman not consult 1256 with the Minister of Health and the Secretary of State for Scotland as to the best way of dealing with it?
§ Mr. BrownPerhaps the hon. Gentleman who put down the question will, first of all, approach my right hon. Friends, and if so I shall be quite willing to enter into any discussions that there may be on the matter.
§ Mr. FootMay we take it that we shall have the right hon. Gentleman's sympathy and assistance in any representations which we make to the Minister of Health and the Secretary of State?