HC Deb 20 April 1944 vol 399 cc387-9W
Miss Ward

asked the Minister of Health (1) what percentage and what approximate number of married and unmarried mothers, respectively, employed in industry continue their work up to the second and third month before confinement;

(2) what percentage and what approximate numbers of married and unmarried mothers, respectively, employed in industry return to work within 12 weeks of their confinement;

(3) what percentage and what approximate numbers of married and unmarried mothers, respectively, employed in industry draw sickness benefit before and after their confinement; and for what period.

Mr. Willink

From a recent sample investigation made by the Government Actuary, with the help of several approved societies having a substantial number of married women members, it appears that of married women claiming maternity benefit about 5 per cent. continued work up to the end of the second month before confinement, about 17 per cent, continued work up to the beginning of that month and about 29 per cent. continued work up to the beginning of the third month. The corresponding figures shown by the investigation were for unmarried women (including both spinsters and widows) 29 per cent., 57 per cent. and 7o per cent. respectively. The same investigation showed that, in the group examined, 93 per cent. of the married women and 45 per cent. of the unmarried women had not returned to work within 12 weeks of their confinement.

The investigation also showed that about 60 per cent. of those who were confined drew sickness benefit at some time in the six months before confinement, whether they were married or unmarried, the average duration of benefit drawn in this period being about 8½ weeks per married woman and 7½ weeks per unmarried woman receiving benefit About one-third of those in receipt of benefit immediately before confinement had drawn sickness benefit for at least two months and about 40 per cent. for between one and two months. Further, about 20 per cent. of the married and 30 per cent. of the unmarried mothers drew sickness benefit at some time in the three months after confinement, the average duration of benefit per claimant being about 5½ weeks for married women and 4½ weeks for unmarried women. In this connection it should be borne in mind that sickness benefit is not ordinarily payable in the four weeks immediately following confinement in view of the provision for maternity benefit. I regret that I have no satisfactory information as to the numbers of women concerned.