Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Answer of 29 March 2017 to Question 69018, for what reasons the Government consultation on the case for introducing an adoption allowance similar to maternity allowance for self-employed adopters is no longer being brought forward; and if she will make a statement.

Since 2010, we have taken significant steps to equalise the state benefits provided to the employed and self-employed, including giving the self-employed access to the full rate of the new State Pension for the first time, (worth up to £1,800/year more).

We continue to keep all differences in treatment between self-employed and employed people under review.