HC Deb 29 November 1993 vol 233 cc331-2W
Mr. Connarty

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will extend the provision of statutory maternity benefits to adoptive mothers.

Mr. Ancram

Statutory maternity pay and maternity allowance provide a measure of earnings replacement to help working women give up work around the time of the birth in the interests of their own and their unborn baby's health. There are no plans to extend the provisions to mothers of adopted children.