One-Parent Families

Mr. Charles Morrison
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will make arrangements to pay sickness benefit to a parent of a one-parent family when one or more children are ill necessitating the parent's absence from work.

Mr. O'Malley
No. Sickness benefit is only payable in respect of personal incapacity for work. People can be prevented from working for a variety of reasons other than their incapacity, and it would not be appropriate to single out a particular group or set of circumstances for special consideration.