HC Deb 26 July 1989 vol 157 cc766-7W
Mr. Battle

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham (Sir I. Gilmour),Official Report, 18 July, column 39–40, if he will show the amount of support received in 1978–79 and 1988–89 by the following categories (a) single payments for maternity expenses and any other single payments identifiable as support for families such as beds, safety gates and high chairs: (b) expenditure on welfare foods for pregnant women and under-fives and (c) free school meals.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

I regret that the information is not available in the form requested. The single payments scheme came into existence in November 1980—succeeding exceptional needs payments for which there is no information on maternity expenses. The first data collected were in the December 1981 "Annual Statistical Enquiry". This showed that single payments totalling £2.6 million has been made for maternity expenses. However, as the information relates to payments made in the 12 months preceding the inquiry to claimants in receipt of benefit at the time of the inquiry it does not record all the single payments made in the year.

Social fund maternity payments replaced the single payments provision in April 1987. Payments totalling £15 million were made in 1988–89.

Neither the single payments nor social fund data identify payments made as support for families.

Responsibility for expenditure on welfare foods and school meals lies with my hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Health and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science, respectively.