§ Mr. Orbachasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the bed occupancy in the maternity department of the Stepping Hill Hospital, Stockport, expresesd monthly, since the department was opened in a separate and new building.
§ Dr. OwenThe following table gives the average rate of bed occupancy per month from the opening of the separate maternity Department in September 1971 to end of November 1975.
which the Finer Committee recommend should be included in the requirements of all one-parent families. The committee itself recognised, however, that the need for extra expenses varies among one-parent families. As it has not been shown that all one-parent families have consistent and measurably greater needs than two-parent families receiving supplementary benefit the Government consider that 519W their special individual needs should continue to be met through the discretionary powers of the Supplementary Benefits Commission.
§ Mr. Ovendenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will now announce her proposals for increasing supplementary benefit disregards for single-parent families.
§ Mr. O'MalleyI would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Wallasey (Mrs. Chalker) on 9th December.—[Vol. 902, c.156.]