§ 14. Siobhain McDonagh (Meacham and Morden)What plans he has to assist mothers with the costs of maternity. [84004]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Social Security (Mr. Hugh Bayley)We are extending maternity allowance to women who earn £30 a week or more and increasing it for self-employed women, who currently receive less benefit than employed women. The existing social fund maternity payment will be replaced with a sure start maternity grant from April 2000, and doubled from £100 to £200 for each child.
Those improvements will give low-earning mothers-to-be some financial help towards the costs of a new baby, enable them to take their full entitlement to maternity leave and help them to achieve a better balance between work and family life. It will be good for their standard of living, good for their health and good for the health of their babies.
§ Siobhain McDonaghIs my hon. Friend aware of how widely welcomed the extension of maternity allowance to less well paid women and the new maternity grant have been? Does he agree that that will allow less well-off mothers to stay in touch with the workplace? Will he assure the House that his Department will do everything that it can to be involved in the Government-wide plans for family-friendly policies in the workplace?
§ Mr. BayleyI thank my hon. Friend for raising those issues. This package of policies demonstrates joined-up Government at its best. People widely welcome the doubling of maternity payment from £100 to £200. People should also be aware that the person claiming has to be in touch with health professionals, so that individuals can obtain advice on how to bring up their new child. Those improvements are welcomed throughout the country and throughout the House by everyone apart from Conservative Members who, last week, voted against the extension of maternity allowance.