Written question asked by Baroness May of Maidenhead (Conservative) on Thursday, 10 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 17 March 2005. It was answered by Maria Eagle (Labour) on Thursday, 17 March 2005 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Dept for Work and Pensions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will list the statistics relating to maternity pay, which, since 1997 (a) are no longer collected by his Department and (b) have had the way in which the figures are compiled changed.

Answer: Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the statistics relating to maternity pay, which, since 1997 (a) are no longer collected by his Department and (b) have had the way in which the figures are compiled changed. [221797] Maria Eagle: The Department produces data on Maternity Allowance payments. We have not produced annual figures for Maternity Allowance since 2000-01. However, we continue to produce figures on a quarterly basis. Since we ceased to produce annual data we no longer have a record of the reason for non-payment of Statutory Maternity Pay. From the May 2000 quarter data is available on the number of jobs the claimant is recorded as having. The employment status of the claimant is shown in figures from the August 2000 quarter.

Secondary information