Written question asked by Vincent Cable (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 26 May 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 7 June 2004. It was answered by Chris Pond (Labour) on Monday, 7 June 2004 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, when Sure Start maternity grant leaflets were distributed to Job Centre Plus local offices; and what steps he has taken to ensure that (a) all Job Centre Plus local offices were supplied with leaflets from the start of the scheme and (b) staff were fully briefed about it.

Answer: Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when Sure Start maternity grant leaflets were distributed to Job Centre Plus local offices; and what steps he has taken to ensure that (a) all Job Centre Plus local offices were supplied with leaflets from the start of the scheme and (b) staff were fully briefed about it. [176771] Mr. Pond: The "Good News for Babies" leaflet was produced in March 2000 when the Sure Start Maternity Grant (SSMG) replaced the Maternity Payment. Over 440,000 leaflets were distributed to local offices using the Department's internal distribution network. The leaflet was also available on the DSS/DWP website. In addition a number of other departmental leaflets were revised to include information on SSMGs and were available to local offices from April 2000. Staff dealing with the Social Fund and those with customer contact were briefed in advance of the proposed SSMG scheme in November 1999. A detailed procedural bulletin, covering initial training and guidance, was issued on 16 February 2000. The Social Fund new entrant training was also amended to include SSMG procedures by April 2000.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 176771; 422 c85-6W
Session: 2003-04
Subjects: Jobcentres Leaflets Maternity benefits Sure Start programme Maternity payments
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk