Lord Winstanleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will make arrangements for the maternity grant to he paid to expectant mothers by the ante-natal clinic which diagnoses and confirms pregnancy as from the date when this grant becomes non-contributory, thus ensuring that all expectant mothers receive appropriate ante-natal care.
§ Lord TrefgarneIt is unlikely that transferring responsibility for payment of maternity grants to antenatal clinics would ensure that all expectant mothers receive the appropriate care. Under the present arrangements, expectant mothers wishing to claim the grant must obtain a certificate signed by a doctor or midwife. Moreover, the grant is not payable earlier than the eleventh week before the week of expected confinement, whereas it is our policy to encourage women to seek ante-natal care as soon as their pregnancy is confirmed.
House adjourned at ten minutes before ten o'clock.