asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will list in the Official Report the number of mothers who (a) qualified and (b) were disqualified, for the maternity grant for each year since 1970;(2) if he will list in the

The numbers qualifying or failing to qualify for maternity grant since 1970 are as follows:

Thousands
	Number of claims for grant	Confinements for which grant awarded	Unsuccessful claims
Year ended: 31st March—
1971	890	825	65
1972	853	815	38
1973	799	726	73
1974	721	671	50
1975	688	637	51
1976	648	634	14

The gross extra cost of paying maternity grant to those who do not at present qualify would, in the current year, be about £1 million. Maternity grant, currently £25, was £4 in 1948. It was normally supplemented by an attendance allowance of £1 a week for four weeks. The £4 grant would be worth £24 at November 1977 prices.