§ 36. Mr. SpringTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will make a statement on her policy of securing employment for single mothers. [34079]
§ Mr. FieldThe Government are committed to helping lone parents into work. The New Deal for Lone Parents shows the priority we attach to helping lone parents secure employment. The New Deal for Lone Parents offers lone parents their own tailored service, provided by Personal Advisers, to help them with jobsearch, training, childcare and in-work benefit calculations.
We have introduced measures to ensure that there are no disincentives in the benefit system which will deter lone parents from taking jobs. Fast-track arrangements are in place to clear claims and to secure the speedy payments of Family Credit where a lone parent has started, or is about to start, work. The target to process 95 per cent. of these claims within five days is currently being achieved. The Child Support Agency has agreed to process applications for maintenance more quickly for lone parents participating in the New Deal for Lone Parents. We will also be introducing a 12 week linking rule for lone parents in receipt of Income Support and Jobseekers Allowance before April 1998. This will mean that there is no benefit disincentive to deter lone parents who want to work from doing so.
Last week the Chancellor announced changes aimed at making work pay. The Working Families Tax Credit will make work pay for all families on low incomes. We will also provide extra help with childcare costs through the Child Care Tax Credit. As the next step in our National Child Care Strategy to ensure affordable, accessible, quality child care for all, the Child Care Tax Credit provides a passport to high quality childcare to all parents regardless of income.
We are committed to helping all parents, particularly lone parents, to balance work and family life and we are taking every opportunity to champion family-friendly employment policies which will allow parents to combine successfully home and work responsibilities. Good family-friendly policies will assist us in delivering both our National Child Care Strategy and the New Deal for Lone Parents.