§ 9. Dr. Grayasked the Minister of Social Security what instructions had been issued to her officers on the policy to be followed in dealing with unmarried mothers who apply for and remain on 20 Assistance while their children are under school age.
§ Mr. PentlandSupplementary benefit is paid in the circumstances described by my hon. Friend without requiring the mother to register for work and is continued so long as it is needed. Special attention is paid to welfare needs and steps are taken, where necessary, to get the putative father to meet his responsibilities.
§ Dr. GrayIs my hon. Friend aware that some unmarried mothers allege that moral attitudes are displayed by officials in dealing with them, and that these officials try to persuade them to divulge the name of the father of the child and also to return to work while their children are still young? Does my hon. Friend agree that any of this should happen? If it is happening, will he condemn it?
§ Mr. PentlandHere again, if my hon. Friend has any facts with regard to this matter, we shall gladly look into them, but I can assure him that it is untrue that claims to supplementary benefit from unmarried mothers are discouraged. They are dealt with normally in respect to the assessment of benefit, and when the mother is looking after dependent children under 16 years of age our officers are instructed not to make registration for work a condition for the receipt of benefit.