§ Ms KellyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the cost of raising the flat-rate statutory maternity payment to £100 a week. [111242]
§ Mr. BayleyThe information is in the table.
Estimated cost of raising the flat-rate Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) and Maternity Allowance (MA) to £100 a week £ million Option Cost increase SMP—imposing floor of £100 for first 6 weeks 10 SMP—raising flat rate to £100 for next 12 weeks 140 SMP Total 150 MA—Raising rate to £100 for 18 weeks 45 Total Cost 195 Note:
These estimates are based on the Government Actuary's Department projection of the average number of women on SMP during 2000–01 and assume 100 per cent. take-up. The estimate of MA for 2000–01 is based on the Government Actuary's Department projections for 2001–02 in 2000–01 prices.