§ Mr. EdwardsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement about extending maternity benefits. [149589]
§ Angela EagleWe are improving maternity benefits as part of our drive to help women achieve a better balance between paid work and family life. Last year we extended Maternity Allowance (MA) to low-paid employed and self-employed working women and increased the rate of benefit for self-employed women. These improvements mean that around 16,000 low-paid working women will get MA for the first time and around 11,000 self-employed women will receive a higher rate of benefit.
On 7 December last year the Department of Trade and Industry published a consultation document Work and Parents: Competitiveness or Choice which sets out a wide range of options and invites views on what the priority measures are that will help working parents at the same time as helping business. The document contains options to extend maternity benefits, which include increasing the flat rate of maternity pay and extending the maternity pay period as well as improvements to parental leave.
The consultation period ends on 7 March 2001 and we will take account of the responses we receive when considering which options should be taken forward.