HC Deb 29 June 1979 vol 969 cc368-81W
Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the levels of maternity grant currently paid in each EEC country, Sweden and Norway in local currency and expressed in £ sterling; on what conditions they are paid; at what week in pregnancy they are paid; and what medical or other necessary expenses have to be met by them.

Mrs. Chalker

Any comparison between the levels of maternity benefits in different countries ought to take account of differences in wage levels, standards of living, taxation treatment and the other free or subsidised services and support available during pregnancy and at confinement. Such information as is available to me on the cost of medical services in the countries to which the hon. Member refers is given in my subsequent written answer to him today.

The following table contains information on cash maternity benefits provided in each EEC country and Sweden as at 1 January 1979.

In relation to Norway, the only information available in the Department shows that at 1 January 1977 a maternity benefit was payable to women with 10 months of insurance at the rate of 4 Kroner (£0.46) a day, plus 1 Kroner (£0.11) a day for each 1,000 Kroner annual income, up to a maximum of 93 Kroner (£10.60) a day. This was payable for six weeks before and six weeks after confinement. There was also a maternity grant for insured mothers not entitled to the main benefit and for certain insured unmarried mothers.

MATERNITY BENEFITS IN THE EEC COUNTRIES AND SWEDEN AS AT 1 JANUARY 1979
Country Qualifying conditions Rate Other information
United Kingdom … Maternity grant
(a) At least 26 paid contributions if insured before 6 April 1975 or Contributions paid in any one tax year amounting to at least 25 times the minimum weekly contribution for that year. £25.00 … … … … —
and
(b) Contributions paid or credited in the appropriate tax year amounting to 25 times the minimum weekly contribution for that year.
Women who are entitled to maternity allowance automatically qualify for manternity grant.
Maternity allowance
(a) At least 26 paid contributions if insured before 6 April 1975 or Contributions must have been paid in any tax year amounting to at least 25 times the minimum weekly contribution for that year. £15.75 a week … … Payable for at least 18 weeks (from 11 weeks before the expected date of confinement). If the confinement is later than expected, the allowance may be paid for up to 6 weeks after the week of confinement.
(b) Contribution must have been paid or credited in the appropriate tax year amounting to at least 50 times the minimum weekly contribution for that year.
Earnings-related supplement
Employed earners' contributions must have been paid in relevant tax year amounting to more than 50 times the minimum weekly contribution for that year. For benefit year beginning 7 January 1979: One-thrid of reckonable earnings in 1977–78 tax year between £15 and £30, plus 15 per cent. of those earnings between £30 and £105 No benefit payable for the first 12 waiting days. Payable 6 days a week for 156 days in a period of interruption of employment. For this purpose, where spells of unemployment or incapacity for work or maternity allowance are separated by not more than 13 weeks, they are linked together to from one period of interruption of employment.
Belgium … … Maternity grant
Insured with family allowance fund … … … … … First child—18,331 BFr (£311.75). —
Second child—12,643 BFr (£215.02).
Each subsequent child—6,801 BFr (£115.66).
Maternity allowance
6 months' contributions … … … … … … 79.5 per cent. of earnings lost during the maternity period. Payable for up to 14 weeks (includings 8 obligatory weeks after the birth).

Country Qualifying conditions Rate Other information
Maternity allowance
Denmark … … 1. (All employed women.) Annual earnings of at least 8,260 Kroner (£795.76) or earnings at this rate in 6 of the last 12 months did in the last 4 weeks before absence. 1 and 2. 90 per cent. of average weekly earnings. 1. Payable for up to 14 weeks from 8 weeks before expected confinement.
Maximum benefit—1,434 Kr (£138.15) a week
2. (All other economically active women.) Receiving insurable earnings. 2. Payable for 4 weeks after the birth.
3. (Women doing domestic work in their own homes for at least one person in addition to themselves.) 3. According to rate of contribution. 3. Payable for 4 weeks after the birth.
Maximum benefit—717 Kr (£69.08) a week.
France … … Pre-natal allowance
(a) Pregnancy must be declared by end of 3rd month and 187.00 Fr (£21.99) a month paid in 3 instalments of 374.00 Fr (£43.97), 748.00 Fr (£87.95), 561.88 Fr (£66.06) respectively after each examination. —
(b) 3 medical examinations must be carried out (before the end of the 3rd month of pregnancy, during the 6th month and the first part of the 8th month).
Post-natal allowance
3 medical examinations of the child: in the first week after birth and at 9 months and 24 months after birth. 1,105.00 Fr (£129.92), 552.50 Fr (£64.96), 552.50 Fr (£64.96), respectively after each examination. —
Maternity allowance
200 hours of employment in the 3 months of the calendar quarter before the beginning of the 9th month preceding the expected date of confinement or the beginning of the maternity allowance period. 10 months of insurance or equivalent before the expected date of confinement. 90 per cent. of insurable earnings. 14 weeks, including 6 weeks before confinement.
Germany … … Maternity grant
Generally wives and daughters of insured persons must have an income of below 390 DM (£104.98) a month. 100 DM (£26.92) … … —
Maternity allowance
12 weeks' insurance between the 10th and the 4th month preceding confinement. 100 per cent. of net wages. Maximum—25 DM (£6.73) a day. Minimum—3.50 DM (£0.94) a day. If conditions are not fulfilled, a lump sum payment of between 35 DM (£9.42) and 150 DM (£40.38) may be made. At least 14 weeks—6 weeks before expected date of confinement, 8 weeks after confinement (12 weeks after confinement in case of premature or multiple birth).

Country Qualifying conditions Rate Other information
Ireland … … Maternity grant
The grant is paid on either the mother's own insurance, or her husband's. If both are insured, two grants may be payable. Lump sum of £8.00. £100 for triplets and £150 for quadruplets (irrespective of whether the conditions listed in the preceding column are met). —
At least 26 contributions paid since entry into insurance; and
At least 26 contributions paid or credited in the contribution year preceding the benefit year in which the confinement takes place or in a subsequent complete contribution year before the date of confinement.
Maternity allowance
26 contributions paid since entry into insurance; and £14.35 a week … … From 6 weeks before the expected date of confinement until 6 weeks after.
At least 26 contributions paid or credited in the last complete contribution year preceding the benefit year in which the allowance is due to begin, or in a subsequent complete contribution year, if any, before the allowance is due to begin.
Pay-related supplement
Claimant must have entitlement to flat-rate maternity allowance and earnings of more than £14 a week. First 147 days—40 per cent. of insurable earnings between £14 and £50. Payable for 6 days a week for up to 381 days of interruption of employment, starting from 13th day.
Next 78 days—30 per cent.
Next 78 days—25 per cent.
Next 78 days—20 per cent.
Maximum benefit—100 per cent. of insurable earnings.
Italy … … Maternity allowance
National Sickness Insurance Institute … … … … 80 per cent. of earnings for 5 months. 30 per cent. of earnings for a further 6 months, if desired. 5 months (2 months before and 3 months after the confinement).
Luxembourg … Maternity grant
For 1st instalment: mother must have been resident during the whole year before birth of the child; 6 medical examinations are necessary. 31,083 LFr (£528.62) payable in 3 instalments of 10,361 —
For 2nd instalment: one parent must have been resident during the whole year before the birth of the child; one medical examination of the mother necessary. LFr (£176.21) each.
For 3rd instalment: 6 medical examinations of the child until 2 years old.
Maternity allowance
Insurance for 6 months in the year preceding confinement … 100 per cent. of earnings … Usually 16 weeks (8 weeks before and 8 weeks after confinement) but can be extended to 20 weeks.

Country Qualifying conditions Rate Other information
Netherlands … Maternity allowance
All insured women … … … … … … … 100 per cent. of insurable earnings. 12 weeks (6 weeks before and 6 weeks after confinement).
Maximum benefit—225.21 FL (£55.95) a day, payable 5 days a week.
Sweden … … Maternity allowance
Insured for at least 180 days immediately before birth or expected date of confinement. 90 per cent. of insurable earnings. Payable to either parent, provided that parent ceases from gainful activity.
For full benefit, insured for 270 days before birth or expected date of confinement. Payable normally for up to 210 days 270 days in certain cases.
Note: Exchange rates used are as at 29 December 1978.

Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in 1976, 1977 and 1978, how many claims were made for maternity grant; how many were successful; and for what reasons the remainder were rejected.

Mrs. Chalker

I regret that the information is not available in the form requested.

Year ended 31 March 1976 Year ended 31 March 1977 Year ended 31 March 1978
Number of births … … … … 675,200 642,500 639,800
Number of grants paid … … … 639,100 586,800 591,300

Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of women who give birth who are excluded, whether they claim or not, from receiving a maternity grant because of an insufficient contribution record, youth, or failure to fulfil other conditions; and what would be the net cost of extending maternity grant to them at its current amount.

Mrs. Chalker

An estimated 59,500 mothers are excluded from receiving the maternity grant. The gross cost of extending the grant at the present level to all mothers is estimated to be £1.5 million a year. I regret that the information to calculate a net cost is not available.

Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services for the latest available year, how many awards of maternity grant were made in respect of (a) married women and (b) unmarried women; and, in a comparable period, what were the numbers of births to married and unmarried women.

The following table gives the number of births and the number of maternity grants paid in the years in question. The main reasons why the grant was not paid were failure to satisfy the contribution conditions and disqualification for late claim.

Mrs. Chalker

In the year ending 31 March 1978, the latest year for which information is available, the figures were:

Number of maternity grants paid Number of births
Married women 560,500 576,800
Non-married women 30,800 63,000

Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, what would be (a) the amount at May, 1979, based on the latest retail price index and (b) the amount in November 1979 based on a rate of inflation of 17½ per cent. from November 1978 to November 1979, of maternity grant if it were to have the same value in real terms as it had on each occasion when it was increased since its introduction in 1948; and in each case what would be the cost of raising it to this amount on (a) a contributory and (b) a non-contributory basis.

Mrs. Chalker

The information requested is as follows:

Based on retail price index at May 1979 Based on an assumed inflation rate of 17.5 per cent. between November 1978 and November 1979
Cost of increasing present grant to equivalent value (£ million) Cost of increasing present grant to equivalent value (£ million)
Date maternity grant increased Amount of grant Equivalent amout of grant on contributory basis on non-contributory basis Equivalent amount of grant on contributory basis on non-contributory basis
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8)
£ £ £
26 October 1953 … … … … … … 9 48 15 17 53 18 21
16 May 1955 … … … … … … 10 51 17 20 56 20 23
3 February 1958 … … … … … 12.50 57 21 24 62 24 27
3 April 1961 … … … … … … 14 60 23 26 66 26 30
11 March 1963 … … … … … … 16 64 25 28 70 29 32
25 January 1965 … … … … … … 22 83 37 41 92 43 48
3 November 1969 … … … … … 25 78 34 38 85 38 43
Notes:
(1) Between 26 October 1953 and 24 January 1965 a home confinement grant was also payable in some cases.
(2) The figures in columns (4), (5), (7) and (8) are estimated gross costs. Net cost figures are not available.

Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the net cost of raising the maternity grant to £75 on (a) a contributory basis and (b) a non-contributory basis.

Mrs. Chalker

The gross cost of raising the grant to £75 would be £32 million. It would cost a further £4 million to make it non-contributory at this level. I regret that the information to calculate the net cost is not available.