Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Answer of 5 November 2019 to Question 8582 on maternity allowance, what the average working day turn around for Maternity Allowance claims was from (a) 16 to 31 October 2019, (b) 1 to 15 November 2019, (c) 16 to 30 November 2019 and (d) 1 to 15 December 2019.

The average working day turn-around for Maternity Allowance claims for the periods quoted are:

16^th-31^st October – 10.5 weeks

1^st – 15^th November – 9 weeks

16^th-30^th November – 7.5 weeks

1^st – 15^th December – 6 weeks