Guardian's Allowance

HC Deb 26 March 2002 vol 382 cc985-6W

David Cairns

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will change the conditions for receiving Guardian's Allowance. [46931]

Malcolm Wicks

Guardians Allowance (GA) is currently paid to people bringing up a child whose parents have either died, or where there is a surviving parent who cannot be traced, or who is serving a prison sentence of five years or more.

From 1 April 2002, we will extend entitlement to GA to those caring for children with a surviving parent who has been ordered by a court to be detained in a hospital, or sentenced to a term of imprisonment for two years or more. This will help to allow more children to remain within their extended family.