§ Mr. McTaggartasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the value of the maternity grant in 1969; and by how much it would need to be increased at the present time to maintain its value at current-day prices.
§ Mr. RossiThe maternity grant was increased to its present level of £25 in November 1969. The grant would have to be increased to £112 to restore its 1969 value at March 1982 prices.
§ Mr. McTaggartasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how maternity grants for women in Great Britain compare with those in other EEC countries.
§ Mr. RossiInformation on the provision of maternity benefits, including maternity grant where it is payable, is contained in the Department's publication "Tables of Social Benefit Systems in the Member States of the European Communities: Position at 1 January 1981". A copy is in the Library of the House.
§ Mr. McTaggartasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many mothers in Great Britain did not qualify for the maternity grant in the most recent year for which figures are available; and for what reasons they were ineligible.
§ Mr. RossiDuring the year ended 30 September 1980 the latest period for which figures are available, it is estimated that about 55,000 mothers did not qualify for the maternity grant.
Failure to qualify was probably due in most cases to non-satisfaction of the contribution conditions.