§ Mrs. Helen JacksonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average cost to the Exchequer of 18 weeks maternity leave per person.
§ Mr. HagueInformation is not available in the form requested. Information available relates to statutory maternity pay. The average cost to the Exchequer of 18 weeks' SMP per beneficiary is estimated at £1,710 for 1995–96.
Notes:
- 1. The estimated average cost has been rounded to the nearest £10 but is not accurate to that degree.
- 2. The figure represents SMP reimbursement to employers and is not the average amount of SMP paid to women.
- 3. Not all women receive 18 weeks of SMP and not all beneficiaries are on maternity leave as such–some resign from their employment on commencement of the maternity pay period.
Source:Government Actuary's Department independent caseload and expenditure forecasts.
§ Mrs. Helen JacksonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many women took paid maternity leave in each of the last three years; and what was the overall cost.
§ Mr. HagueThe information is not available in the form requested. The available information relates to women receiving statutory maternity pay and is in the table.
Statutory Maternity Pay 1991–92 to 1993–94 1991–92 £ million 1992–93 £ million 1993–94 £ million Total estimated expenditure 345 398 420 Estimated number of beneficiaries 245,000 245,000 260,000 Notes:
- 1. Expenditure figures appear in the 1994 Social Security Departmental Report and are at cash prices.
- 2. Figures for number of beneficiaries have been estimated using figures provided by the Government Actuary's Department and assume that all women receive SMP for a full 18 weeks.