§ Mr. Roweasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement about the review of financial provision for maternity.
§ Mr. NewtonAs I said in reply to the hon. Member for Barking (Ms. Richardson) on 3 April, at column477, we shall be considering the provision of financial help for maternity needs alongside the programme of linked reviews which my right hon. Friend has announced. The review will encompass the maternity benefits and payments administered by the Department and the maternity pay scheme administered by the Department of Employment. It will examine the scope for simplifying administration and for making more effective use of present resources. The review is being undertaken by a small inter-departmental team of officials, who have been asked to report to myself and my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Employment, later in the year.
We are already aware of the views expressed by those who responded to the 1980 consultative document "A Fresh Look at Maternity Benefits" and these will be taken into account in the present exercise. It would be helpful if those wishing to submit further views could send them to DHSS (Branch A3A), Room 337, Friars House, 157–168 Blackfriars Road, London SE1 8EU by 31 July, so that they can be fed into the work of the review.