§ Mr. Ronnie CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many women claimed maternity grant in Blyth Valley in the last year for which figures are available, and what is the estimated number of women who will receive social fund payments for maternity in the year 1993–94.
§ Mr. Roger EvansAround 560,000 maternity grants were made in Great Britain in 1986–87, the last year in which the grants were awarded. The corresponding figures for Blyth Valley are not available.
The available figures on social fund maternity claims and payments for the Benefits Agency district office of Northumberland are set out in the table.
Year Number of maternity payments claimed in Northumberland district Number of maternity payments awarded in Northumberland district 1991–92 1,072 907 1992–93 1,160 988 1993–94 1,239 1,058 The total number of social fund maternity payments awarded in Great Britain in 1993–94 was 230,220; the number for 1994–95 is estimated at 312,900. Estimates cannot be made other than on a national basis.