§ 1. Mr. Errollasked the Minister of National Insurance (1) if, in view of the number of cases in which maternity grant and attendance allowance is forfeited through not knowing how short is the period in which claims can be lodged, he will ensure that the forfeiture clauses are brought to public attention by individual notices issued when each birth is registered;
(2) under what circumstances late claims for maternity grant and attendance allowance are admitted, and how he ensures that the rules are uniformly applied throughout the country.
§ Mr. SteeleThe circumstances in which a late claim to maternity benefit is admissible are matters for the statutory authorities whose decisions are co-ordinated by the Commissioners appointed under the National Insurance Acts. As the hon. Member was informed in reply to a Question on 25th October, the time limits for claiming this benefit have recently been substantially extended. A leaflet describing the conditions for maternity benefit is given to every woman who applies for an expectant mother's ration book, and leaflets are also available at maternity clinics and my own offices. I do not think that there would be any advantage in also making them available through Registrars.