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Thursday 15 December 1994 00:02 GMT
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SOCIAL FUND: The £85 maternity payment made to those who qualify for Social Fund help and introduced in 1987 would be worth £125 today if it had been uprated in line with prices, William Hague, Minister of State for Social Security, told Paul Flyn n (Lab, Newport West). The £1,000 widow's payment, introduced in 1988, would be worth £1,417 if it had risen in line with inflation, and £1,880 if it had risen in line with earnings since 1985.

Business today - Commons: Treasury questions. Prime Minister's questions. Estimates debate on DSS responsibilities for the CSA. Consolidated Fund Bill, all stages, then backbench debates. Lords: Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications and DeemedApplications) (Scotland) Amendment Regs. Environment Bill, Second Reading.

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