§ Miss Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Employment, in view of the fact that a number of employers have telephoned his Department to ascertain the procedure for claiming a rebate from the Maternity Pay Fund and have been told nothing is known about it, whether he will outline the procedure and list any forms which have to be completed and from where they should be obtained in the Official Report, publicise the information through appropriate channels and brief his Department on how to deal with inquiries.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerClaims for rebate from the Maternity Pay Fund are dealt with through redundancy payments offices, which will provide employers with the necessary forms MP1 and MP1(R). The address of the appropriate redundancy payments office can be obtained from any local office of my Department. There has been considerable local, regional and national Press advertising about the fund. The local offices of my Department have been briefed to supply explanatory literature and, if necessary, refer inquiries to the specialist officers dealing with the subject at redundancy payments offices.
§ Miss Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Employment, in view of the fact that many employers are uninformed about the procedure for granting maternity pay and claiming a rebate and consequently are telling women employees they cannot afford to pay because they will be out of pocket, how he proposes to publicise the procedure.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerAn explanatory leaflet dealing with the new rights for the expectant mother, and mentioning the Maternity Pay Fund and rebates, has been available since May 1976. It was supplemented in March this year by a further leaflet dealing with maternity pay and telling employers how to obtain rebates. Press notices about the leaflets282W were issued on both occasions, and advertisements have appeared in the Press over the last month. Copies of the Press notices and leaflets have been sent to employers' associations so that they may advise their members through their own channels.