§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment she has made of the report issued on 11 January which was commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Security on lone parents and employment in Northern Ireland; and what action she will take in respect of the recommendations made. [67750]
§ Mr. McFallThe report "others on Benefit" is the most detailed investigation ever undertaken in Northern Ireland into the obstacles that lone parents face when considering taking up work. It will make a very useful contribution to the development of the wide range of services that are needed by lone parents in Northern Ireland.
Many of the recommendations and conclusions reached in the report are being addressed under the New Deal for Lone Parents, the National Childcare strategy, the current review of the child support maintenance system and the proposed introduction of Working Families Tax Credit to replace Family Credit from 5 October 1999. I have arranged for copies of the report to be widely distributed so that its recommendations can be taken into account in the provision of future services for lone parents.