Social Security Benefits: Children

(asked on 21st June 2017) - View Source

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of the number of pregnancies that will occur as a result of rape in families that already have at least two children in the next 12 months.


Answered by
Damian Hinds Portrait
Damian Hinds
Minister of State (Education)
This question was answered on 30th June 2017

The Government assessed the equality and human rights impacts of this policy fully, throughout policy development and in preparation for its implementation, thus meeting its obligations under the Public Sector Equality Duty, and ensuring compliance with the Human Rights Act 1998. Ministers have also taken account of that duty during the formulation of the exceptions to the policy. Consequently, it is the Government’s position that this policy is compliant with its obligations under the Equality Act 2010, the European Convention on Human Rights and the UN Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women.

We have not estimated the number of pregnancies that will occur in the next 12 months as a result of non consensual sex. Information about terminations is not available.

We recognise that this is a difficult and sensitive issue. We believe that this strikes the right balance between ensuring mothers get the support they need in a not overly intrusive manner whilst at the same time providing the right assurance to Government that the additional support is going to those for whom it is intended.

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