§ Mr. Barry FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what comparative assessment he has made of the United Kingdom system of maternity benefits as against those of European Community countries.
Social fund budgeting loans, crisis loans and community care grants for year 1988–89 Estimated percentages of numbers of awards by client group Client group Budgeting loans Crisis loans Community care grants Not known or unallocated 0.5 0.2 0.4 Applicant or partner aged 60 or over 80 and over, with IS higher pensioner premium 0.3 0.1 4.5 Aged 60–79, disabled with higher pensioner premium 0.6 0.1 3.7 Aged 60–79 3.9 0.9 14.3 Applicant and partner aged under 60 Lone parents with IS disability premium 0.4 0.2 0.9 Family with IS disability premium 3.6 1.3 3.4 Others with IS disability premium 3.6 1.5 10.0 Lone parents 43.9 19.8 25.2 Unemployed, signing quarterly at UBO, with IS family premium 0.7 0.1 0.7 Unemployed, signing quarterly at UBO, without IS family premium 2.1 0.5 1.5 Unemployed or with training allowance, with IS family premium 16.7 13.8 9.5 Unemployed or with training allowance, without IS family premium 18.8 42.8 16.4 Others, with IS family premium 1.0 1.1 2.0 Others, without IS family premium 3.8 5.9 6.3 Involved in a trade dispute 0.0 0.0 0.0 Not on IS n/a 11.8 1.1 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 n/a = Not applicable.
Note: Percentages are based on data from June 1988 to March 1989.
436W
§ Mr. Peter LloydI refer my hon. Friend to my hon. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, South-West (Mrs. Shephard) earlier today.