Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make it her policy to expand the groups of people eligible for Maternity Allowance to support them while taking time off to have a baby to include (a) PhD candidates and (b) other students; and if she will make a statement.

Entitlement to Maternity Allowance is determined by an employment and earnings test, designed to establish a recent connection to the labour market. PhD candidates, and students, can qualify for Maternity Allowance provided they meet the employment and earnings test. The Government currently has no plans to expand eligibility for Maternity Allowance.