§ Mr. David Marshallasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in (a) Scotland, (b) Strathclyde region, (c) Glasgow district and (d) Shettleston constituency, claimed the maternity grant in the last year for which figures are available; and how many are expected to qualify each year for a maternity payment from the social fund after April 1987.
§ Mr. MajorIn the 12 months ending 31 December 1986 the following number of claims to maternity grant were made at the Department's offices which cover the areas in question.
Number (a) Scotland 59,419 (b)Strathclyde region 30,593 (c) Glasgow district 10,880 (d) Shettleston constituency 1,013 It is not possible to predict how many women in the areas of the question will qualify for maternity payments from the social fund from April 1987.
§ Mrs. Dunwoodyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in Crewe and Nantwich claimed the maternity grant in the last year for which figures are available; and how many women in Crewe and Nantwich are expected to qualify for a maternity payment from the social fund after April 1987.
§ Mr. MajorInformation on the number of claimants to maternity grant is not available in the precise form requested. The Crewe and Nantwich constituency is covered by the Department's office at Crewe although its boundaries are not conterminous with the constituency. The number of claims received for maternity grant in the Crewe local office during the calendar year 1986 was 2,134. It is not possible to predict how many women in Crewe and Nantwich will qualify for maternity payments from the social fund from April 1987.
§ Mr. Cabornasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in Sheffield, Central claimed the maternity grant in the last year for which figures are available; and how many women in Sheffield, Central are expected to qualify annually for a maternity payment from the social fund after April 1987.
§ Mr. MajorInformation on the number of claimants to maternity grant is not available in the precise form
589Wrequested. The Sheffield, Central constituency is covered by the Department's offices at Sheffield, north-east, Sheffield, north-west, Sheffield, south-east and Sheffield, south-west although their boundaries are not conterminous with the constituency. The numbers of claims received for maternity grant in each of the four local offices during the calendar year 1986 were as follows:
Number Sheffield, North-East 1,579 Sheffield, North-West 1,933 Sheffield, South-East 1,243 Sheffield, South-West 1,793 It is not possible to predict how many women in Sheffield Central will qualify for maternity payments from the social fund from April 1987.
§ Mr. Mikardoasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in the city of Westminster claimed the maternity grant in the last year for which figures are available; and how many women in the city of Westminster are expected to qualify annually for a maternity payment from the social fund after April 1987.
§ Mr. MajorInformation on the number of claimants to maternity grant is not available in the precise form requested. In the 12 months ending 31 December 1986 the following numbers of claims to maternity grant were made at the Department's offices which cover the City of Westminster, although their boundaries are not conterminous:
Number Euston 856 Paddington 1,138 Cricklewood 633 Chelsea1 Westminster1 1Claims for these offices are dealt with at Aldershot Out-station. A total of 3,085 claims were dealt with at that office but this total includes claims proper to other offices. It is not possible to predict how many women in the City of Westminster will qualify for maternity payments from the social fund from April 1987.
§ Mr. Randallasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in Luton, South claimed the maternity grant in the last year for which figures are available; and how many women in Luton, South are expected to qualify annually for a maternity payment from the social fund after April 1987.
§ Mr. MajorInformation on the number of claimants to maternity grant is not available in the precise form requested. The Luton, South constituency is covered by the Department's office at Luton, although its boundaries are not conterminous with the constituency. The number of claims received for maternity grant in the Luton local office during the calendar year of 1986 was 3,029. It is not possible to predict how many women in Luton, South will qualify for maternity payments from the social fund from April 1987.
Mr. Deakins asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in Walthamstow claimed maternity grant in the last year for which figures are available; and how many women in Walthamstow are expected to qualify for a payment from the social fund after April 1987.
590W
§ Mr. MajorInformation on the number of claimants to maternity grant is not available in the precise form requested. The Walthamstow constituency is covered by the Department's office at Walthamstow although its boundaries are not conterminous with the constituency. The number of claims received for maternity grant at Walthamstow local office during the calendar year 1986 was 1,901. It is not possible to predict how many women in Walthamstow will qualify for maternity payments from the social fund from April 1987.
§ Mr. Roy Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in Newport, East claimed the maternity grant in the last year for which figures are available; and how many such women are expected to qualify for a maternity payment from the social fund after April 1987.
§ Mr. MajorInformation on the number of claimants to maternity grant is not available in the precise form requested. The Newport, East constituency is covered by the Department's office at Newport although its boundaries are not conterminous with the constituency. The number of claims received for maternity grant in the Newport local office during the calendar year 1986 was 2,711. It is not possible to predict how many women in Newport, East will qualify for maternity payments from the social fund from April 1987.
§ Mrs. Clwydasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in Cynon Valley claimed the maternity grant in the last year for which figures are available; and how many such women are expected to qualify for a maternity payment from the social fund after April 1987.
§ Mr. MajorInformation on the number of claimants to maternity grant is not available in the precise form requested. The Cynon Valley constituency is covered by the Department's offices at Aberdare and Pontypridd although their boundaries are not conterminous with the constituency. The numbers of claims received for maternity grant in each of the two local offices during the calendar year 1986 were as follows:
Number Aberdare 788 Pontypridd 1,182 It is not possible to predict how many women in Cynon Valley will qualify for maternity payments from the social fund from April 1987.
§ Ms. Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many single payments for maternity items were paid to supplementary benefit claimants in 1984 and 1985; and what was the average amount paid for each claim in each of these years.
§ Mr. LyellThe latest available information comes from the November 1984 "Annual Statistical Enquiry", and records 189,000 (to nearest '000) payments for maternity needs, at an average amount of £68.18.
(Note: ASE data record the number of single payments made during the 12 months preceding the date of the inquiry to persons in receipt of supplementary benefit at the time of the inquiry. As a result they do not record all the single payments made during the year).591W
§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many single payments for maternity items were made to women in Bradford in the last year for which figures are available.
§ Mr. LyellI regret that the information requested is not collected by individual local offices and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in the Eccles constituency claimed the maternity grant in the last year for which figures are available; and how many women in the Eccles constituency are expected to qualify in a year for a maternity payment from the social fund after April; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MajorInformation on the number of claimants to maternity grant is not available in the precise form requested. The Eccles constituency is covered by the Department's offices at Salford North and Salford South although their boundaries are not conterminous with the constituency. The numbers of claims received for maternity grant in each of the two local offices during the calendar year 1986 were as follows:
Number Salford North 1,508 Salford South 1,066 It is not possible to predict how many women in the Eccles constituency will qualify for maternity payments from the social fund from April 1987.
§ Mr. Willie W. Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in Devon and Cornwall, respectively, received the maternity grant in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and how many women there are expected to qualify for a maternity payment from the social fund after April 1987.
§ Mr. MajorInformation on the number of claimants to maternity grant is not available in the precise form requested. In the 12 months ending 31 December 1986 the following numbers of claims to maternity grant were made at the Department's offices which cover Devon and Cornwall although the boundaries are not conterminous.
Number Devon: Barnstaple 1,418 Devonport 1,815 Exeter 2,496 Plymouth 2,742 St. Austell 1,383 Torbay 2,142 Cornwall: Launceston 361 Penzance 1,030 Truro 1,513 It is not possible to predict how many women in Devon and Cornwall will qualify for maternity payments from the social fund from April 1987.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in the Eccles constituency received maternity allowance in the last year for which figures are available, and how many women in the Eccles constituency are expected to receive statutory maternity pay or maternity allowance after April; and if he will make a statement.
592W
§ Mr. MajorInformation is not available in the form requested. But in the 12 months ending April 1986, the latest year for which figures are available, 944 claims to maternity allowance were made at Salford, north and 676 at Salford, south, the Department's offices which cover the constituency, although the boundaries are not conterminous.
It is not possible to predict how many women in Eccles will qualify for statutory maternity pay or maternity allowance from April 1987. However, it is estimated that in total some 230,000 women will qualify for statutory maternity pay and 84,000 for maternity allowance in 1987–88.
§ Mr. Willie W. Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in Devon and Cornwall, respectively, received maternity allowance in 1985; and how many women there are expected to receive maternity pay or maternity allowance after April.
§ Mr. MajorInformation is not available in the form requested. But in the 12 months ending April 1986, the latest year for which figures are available, the following numbers of claims to maternity allowance were made at the Department's offices which cover Devon and Cornwall, although the boundaries are not conterminous.
Number Devon Barnstaple 1,086 Devonport 1,410 Exeter 2,177 Plymouth 1,863 St. Austell 1,039 Torbay 1,659 Cornwall Launceston 566 Penzance 683 Truro 987 It is not possible to predict how many women in Devon and Cornwall will qualify for statutory maternity pay or maternity allowance from April 1987. However, it is estimated that in total some 230,000 women will qualify for statutory maternity pay and 84,000 for maternity allowance in 1987–88.
§ Mr. Gordon Brownasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in Dunfermline, East claimed maternity grant in the last year for which figures are available.
§ Mr. MajorInformation on the number of claimants to maternity grant is not available in the precise form requested. The Dunfermline, East constituency is covered by the Department's offices at Cowdenbeath and Dunfermline although their boundaries are not conterminous with the constituency. The numbers of claims received for maternity grant in each of the two local offices during the calendar year 1986 were as follows:
Number Cowdenbeath 556 Dunfermline 1,226
§ Mr. Gordon Brownasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in Dunfermline, East received maternity allowance in the last year for which figures are available.
593W
§ Mr. MajorInformation is not available in the form requested. But in the 12 months ending April 1986, the latest year for which figures are available, 949 claims to maternity allowance were made at Dunfermline and 366 claims at Cowdenbeath, the Department's offices which cover the constituency, although the boundaries are not conterminous.