§ Mr. Richard Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) 679W if he will list in the Official Report the number of mothers who (a) qualified and (b) were disqualified, for the maternity grant for each year since 1970;
(2) if he will list in the Official Report the cost of extending the maternity grant to all mothers;
(3) if he will list in the Official Report the level at which the maternity grant would be paid currently if it had been indexed to the retail price index in 1948.
§ Mr. OrmeThe numbers qualifying or failing to qualify for maternity grant since 1970 are as follows:
Thousands Number of claims for grant Confinements for which grant awarded Unsuccessful claims Year ended: 31st March— 1971 890 825 65 1972 853 815 38 1973 799 726 73 1974 721 671 50 1975 688 637 51 1976 648 634 14 The gross extra cost of paying maternity grant to those who do not at present qualify would, in the current year, be about £1 million. Maternity grant, currently £25, was £4 in 1948. It was normally supplemented by an attendance allowance of £1 a week for four weeks. The £4 grant would be worth £24 at November 1977 prices.