HANNAH HEDGES WELCOMES MATERNITY INCOME GUARRANTEE

Written by Hannah Hedges and published in Local Press on Mon 24th Jan 2005

This morning (Monday 24th January) Hannah Hedges, Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Hitchin and Harpenden, attended a Press conference with Charles Kennedy to launch the Liberal Democrats policy on Maternity benefits.

Liberal Democrats would give working families having their first child the option to have the mother stay at home for 6 months with an income equivalent to minimum wage. Becoming a parent for the first time is a daunting task and giving new working parents more support has benefits for them, their babies, their employers and the economy.

Hannah said: 'Liberal Democrats make families possible and affordable. This extra money offers all new working mums financial security and support.

In effect, it means security and support for children from day one.

It is the sort of policy which makes a real difference to the day to day lives of many families in Hitchin and Harpenden.'

The Liberal Democrat 'Maternity Income Guarantee' will guarantee all working mothers will be paid at least £4,420 for the 26 weeks of statutory maternity leave when they are starting a family. This equates to £170 per week, the equivalent of the gross income of the minimum wage for a 35 hour week.

Around 200,000 working women have their first baby every year. Under the Maternity Income Guarantee, the majority would be significantly better off - and not one would lose out.