The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

Prime Minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 1990-1997

1983-1987 Parliament

Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Maternity Payments – 24 March 1987

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Maternity Payments on 24th March 1987.


Ms. Harman Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in London claimed maternity grant in (a) 1980, (b) 1981, (c) 1982, (d) 1983, (e) 1984, (f) 1985 and (g) 1986.

Mr. Major It is estimated that the numbers of women who received the maternity grant in the Greater London council area in the years from 1980 to 1986 were as shown in the following table:

Year | Number

1980 | 81,500
1981 | (1)
1982 | 82,800
1983 | 90,100
1984 | 107,950
1985 | 129,050
1986 | 96,600 (2)

(1) Because of industrial action, no figures arc held of the number of recipients in the year.
(2) To September 1986 only, the latest date for which figures are available.