Jim Sheridan MP Celebrates new Health in Pregnancy Grants
Posted by Jim Sheridan, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, at 13:17, Tue 7 April 2009:
Paisley and Renfrewshire North MP, Jim Sheridan joined Christiana Hedd, an expectant mum, to celebrate the new Health in Pregnancy grants, at an event in Parliament organised by shopworkers’ union, USDAW.
The Health in Pregnancy grants will commence on 6 April for all mothers of babies that are due after this date. All pregnant women can claim a one-off £190 grant from the 25th week of pregnancy.
Christiana is delighted with the new grant and Labour’s extension of paid maternity leave, “My second child is due in August. Having a baby is an expensive business, especially a first one, as you need to buy all the new equipment, like a pram. That bit of extra money will help make life a little easier. When I’ve had my baby, I intend to take the full increased maternity leave too. The extra months at home will be good for both my child and me.”
Speaking at the event, Jim Sheridan MP said, “I am delighted that the Government has given this extra help to new parents which will directly benefit thousands of families in Renfrewshire constituency. Labour have already more than doubled maternity pay and extended paid maternity leave from 14 weeks to 39 weeks. This new grant recognises the costs of preparing for a new baby and will help all parents to give their children the best start in life.”
John Hannett, Usdaw General Secretary, added, “Many of our members have lower incomes, and two thirds of them are women, so they will benefit greatly from this money to help with their new child. Mums-to-be have enough on their minds without having to worry about where the extra money that inevitably comes with having a new baby is going to come from.”
For more details visit www.direct.gov.uk/money4mum2be or call the Health in Pregnancy grant helpline on 0845 366 7885.
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Posted by Diane MacDonald, 21:34, Tue 7 April 2009: (Is this post abusive?) #
Good news above re Health in Pregnancy grants, but it is worrying that Scotland has highest Teenage pregnancies.... with all the related problems for SWD and NHS, as well as often unhappy life for the mother and problems for the child. I notice that many of the most desperate abuse cases and even murder of children often involves 'the live-in boyfriend' who is often not the father of the child. We need to keep the problem of teen pregnancies and need for social and sexual education for our young people high on the agenda please. Kind Regards, Diane