§ Mr. EnnisTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many mothers he estimates will benefit from the Sure Start maternity grant in(a) Barnsley and (b) Doncaster. [116079]
§ Angela EagleThe administration of the Social Fund is a matter for Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Jeff Ennis, dated 28 March 2000:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many mothers he estimates will benefit from the Sure Start Maternity Grant in (a) Barnsley and (b) Doncaster.An estimate is not available in the format requested. It is expected that the Sure Start Maternity Grant (SSMG) take-up will be at approximately the same level as the existing Social Fund Maternity Payment, though because Working Families Tax Credit gives qualification to more mothers than Family Credit did, there could be a small rise.The smallest unit for which we can supply information is at the level of the BA district. Both Barnsley and Doncaster are in the South East Yorkshire District, which also includes Goole. Such information as is available is in the attached table.I hope this is helpful.
Social Fund Maternity Payments/SSMG estimate in South East Yorkshire Year Number 1997–98 2,060 1998–99 2,150 1999–20001 1,773 2000–012 2,495 1 To February 2000 2 Estimate Notes:
- 1. The figures do not distinguish male and female applicants.
166W - 2.The 1997–98 figure is the total of the figures for Barnsley (799) and the former South East Yorkshire District (1,261) which were then separate.
- 3.Goole was not included until 1998–99. It was formerly a part of the East Yorkshire district. Separate figures are not available.