§ Sir B. Rhys Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many mothers are able to establish their claims for maternity allowances; and what proportion this represents of the total number of allowances that would be payable for the birth of children to all mothers in regular work.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownIt is not possible to give the precise information requested, since those married women who do not have the necessary contribution record, because they have chosen not to pay the full national insurance contribution, normally do not claim maternity allowance. However, it is estimated that some 293,000 claims for maternity allowance were made in the calendar year 1972, and that 225,000 of these claims were successful.
§ Sir B. Rhys Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is now the total number of maternity grants paid annually; what is the amount of the grant; and when it was last changed.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownThe latest available figures show that, in the calendar year 1972, 745,000 maternity grants were paid. The amount of the grant was increased to its present figure of £25 in November 1969.
§ Sir B. Rhys Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what the maternity grant is intended to cover;
(2) if she will publish a list of the items for which the maternity grant is paid, together with their average current retail cost.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownThe maternity grant is intended as a contribution towards the general expenses associated with the birth of a child, and therefore does not provide for the purchase of any specific items.
§ Sir B. Rhys Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many mothers fail to establish their claims for maternity grants on the birth of their children due to deficiencies in their records of contributions or those of their husbands, or for other reasons; how many of them are unmarried or living apart from their spouses; and what estimate 336W she has made of the cost of making the maternity grant a universal benefit.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownIn the calendar year 1972 there were for all reasons some 70,000 unsuccessful claims for maternity grant, but no record is kept of the marital status of claimants. The cost of the 745,000 maternity grants paid in that year was £18.6 million while if a grant of £25 had been paid in respect of every birth the cost would have been £204 million.