Maternity Payments

Mr. Archer
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many women in Northern Ireland were in receipt of maternity allowance grant for each year since 1978; and what proportion of those numbers will continue to receive state aid when the new Government regulations come into force.

Mr. Needham
Information is not available in the precise form requested. However, the number of £25-----------------------
||Year ended 31 March||
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||1978               ||
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||1979               ||
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||1980               ||
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||1981               ||
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||1982               ||
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||1983               ||
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||1984               ||
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||1985               ||
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||1986               ||
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||1987               ||
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It is estimated that some 12,400 maternity payments at £80 will be made from the social fund during the year ending 31 March 1988.