§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has for the future levels of maternity payments to women earning less than the national insurance threshold.
§ Miss WiddecombeWomen whose earnings are below the lower earnings limit for national insurance contributions do not qualify for maternity benefits. Without such a floor on entitlement, benefit payments could exceed earnings. The limit itself is regularly increased, but we have no plans to remove it.