Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the effect of the deduction of maternity allowance from universal credit as unearned income on the (a) affordability for new mothers of (i) housing costs, (ii) nappies and (iii) and other baby essentials and (b) children of those mothers in respect of the principle set out in section 1(1) of the Children Act 1989.

Universal Credit is a means tested system of support. Where claimants have income available to meet their everyday living costs, such as maternity allowance, it is right that their entitlement to UC is adjusted accordingly (as currently is the case with other DWP legacy means tested working age benefits).

Statutory maternity pay is paid by an employer and is therefore a form of earnings subject to the work allowance and tapering within Universal Credit, as are other earnings.