Government Grants.
Government grants for maternity and child welfare work are now made, and half the cost of the whole or any part of schemes, approved by the Local Government Board, is now paid.
A sum of £50,000 has been voted this year (1915) for England and Wales, and no doubt corresponding sums will be available for Scotland and Ireland.
NATIONAL SCHEME
PROPOSED BY THE WOMEN’S CO-OPERATIVE GUILD
To insure effective care of Maternity and Infancy, it would be necessary to combine the administration of benefits under the Insurance Act with the services organised by the Public Health Authority.
Maternity and Pregnancy Sickness Benefits.—These should be taken out of the Insurance Act, extended to all women (under the income-tax limit), and increased in amount. In addition to the 30s. maternity benefit, every mother should receive £3 10s. in weekly payments of 10s. for three weeks before and four weeks after confinement (or for longer periods if she prefers smaller weekly payments). During pregnancy she should be entitled to benefit varying according to her condition, from 2s. 6d. to 7s. 6d. a week, if her health requires it, subject to the recommendation of a maternity centre or a doctor.
Public Health Authorities should be empowered to administer these benefits through women health officers and maternity centres.
Notification of Births.—Notification of births and still-births is now compulsory throughout the country, and in order to make it effective, an adequate number of Health Visitors should be appointed in every area.
Women Health Officers.—The status of Health Visitors should be raised, their salaries being increased, and three qualifications being required—i.e., midwifery, sanitary, and nursing certificates.