§ Mrs. WiseTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what steps he takes to monitor the financial, housing or social circumstances of pregnant girls aged under 18 years in the light of the higher risks faced by them and their babies;
(2) if he is monitoring the applications for income support made by pregnant girls under 18 years old; and if he will now make it his practice to grant such applications during the winter without any further requirements of severe hardship;
(3) how many pregnant girls under 18 years old and in the first six months of their pregnancy are receiving income support due to severe hardship; and what proportions of such applications are currently being granted.
§ Mr. JackAll pregnant girls aged 16 or 17 years of age can get income support under normal rules for the 11 weeks prior to, and for six weeks after, their confinement. During the earlier stage of pregnancy they can get income support if they are incapable of work, but the remainder are guaranteed the offer of a youth training place. For those on youth training, training allowance replaces income support. The Secretary of State for Employment has taken measures to ease access to appropriate youth training provision for pregnant girls, the aim of which is to provide training relevant to their needs.
The severe hardship provisions within income support provide the necessary discretion to enable sensitive handling of such cases and for financial, housing and social circumstances to be taken into account, and there are no plans for making seasonal adjustments to the rules. Between 5 January 1991 and 8 February 1991, of 218 claims for income support by pregnant girls 162 (74 per cent.) were in need of income support under the severe hardship provisions.