§ Mr. Edelmanasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will take steps to enable women who are discharged early from hospital owing to the shortage of beds to receive the whole or an appropiate proportion of the £6 home confinement grant.
§ Mr. WoodI see no adequate reason for a change in the present provisions. The home confinement grant is a lump sum payment of £6 for mothers who have to meet all but the medical and midwifery expenses of having their babies at home. In the circumstances described in the hon. Member's Question, it can be paid in full if the mother were admitted to hospital as an emergency case. The man benefit for mothers is the maternity grant of £16, which is paid wherever the baby is born.