§ Mrs. Beckettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what arrangements will be made to ensure that families expecting their first child and not in receipt of supplementary benefit can receive a maternity grant from the social fund before the expected date of confinement.
§ Mr. LyellPeople receiving income support or family credit (supplementary benefit or family income supplement in 1987–88) will be eligible for a maternity payment from the social fund, subject to a capital rule of £500. As we made clear in chapter 4 of the White Paper "Reform of Social Security" (Cmnd. 9691), people who qualify for one of those benefits on the birth of their child will be able to receive a payment at that stage. We intend to allow claims for such payments up to three months after the date of confinement.