Money for pregnant women to buy fruit and veg ....

[ComeOVeneer]

thoughts?

If i got it right now I'd spend it on an ipod.

Because I already buy healthy food.

WTF is this stupid idea all about?

are they giving all PG women this money or just on low incomes?

Not read the whole thread but surely money could be better spent on education & making sure babies stop having babies as we now have the highest teen pregnancy rate in Europe? Think too that the payment is given in cash but it will be "suggested" that it be spent on fruit and veg. Sorry to be so tabloid about it but...duh! If I was 15 I'd spend it in Claires Accessories.

even if they get vouchers they will just sell them for under face value or exchange them for a pack of fags so that wont work either just scrap the crap idea and get more health preofessionals in place

this is the most rediculous idea i have heard you get a one off "grant" at seven months when the baby is pretty much formed already and lets face it £120.00 doesnt go far these days especially on fruit and veg it should be a weekly amount and it should be from the start of the pregnancy!

MrsM just wanted to ask if you have received your apology yet? Understand and identfy with your experience.

The grant will only apply to mums in England. What about those of us north of the border??? I also agree that a voucher system is a better idea.

mmm. correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this just a crafty re-announcement (and relabelling) of the pre-birth extension of child benefit that had already been promised? Which, of course, can be spent on anything at all - food, baby kit, cigarettes... Personally I think that it's a really good idea to start child benefit early (especially as claiming it takes quite some time after birth) but it's stupid for the government then to try and determine what people spend it on.

Haven't read entire thread but what an absolute WASTE of £70million.

I also think it is an absolute insult. If I was given £120 cash I would immediately donate it to a children's charity because although I am in no way flush, I eat healthily anyway and I am not prepared to take a cash grant in this manner.

Also, child benefit starting on 29th week of pregnant I don't agree with either - what if, god forbid, something happened and the child didn't survive?? Would the government then take its money back?????

Some of this thread really annoys me. I find it quite insulting.

I do agree that vouchers are better than cash as yes, cash can be spent on anything.

Cash grants and vouchers already exist for those of us on low incomes and I claimed my SureStart maternity grant (and have def spent that amount on baby stuff since ds came along) and get my HealthyStart vouchers.

I really resent the comments that people on low incomes would just spend the money on fags and would just go and sell vouchers for below face value. I mean really! The comments are suggesting that vouchers restricted to fruit and veg be used instead of cash, that is exactly what HealthyStart vouchers are (including milk), I doubt very much that anyone would come and buy my vouchers if i stood in the middle of Tesco and tried ot sell them!

Yes, I agree that more support is needed, more bf support and more help in getting mums to eat healthily themselves and cook healthily for their children. Yes, I agree with most of you that this cash grant thing seems a bit daft especially considering that you can already get £5.60 a week for fruit and veg but please will you quit labelling all of us on low incomes as unemployed hopeless cases who would rather smoke their money away than use the benefits available to their full purpose.

why assume pregnant women won't use it for the good of their baby. I think the vast majority would put it towards something baby related (even if not fruit and veg).

I don't remember a big outcry when OAP's were given the £200 winter fuel allowance. That can also in theory be spent on anything and is a universal benefit for anyone over 60. Why do we trust OAP's to spend this free handout as intended and not fecklessly waste the money down the bingo or on fags and booze but not trust our young women!

Exactly molly

Because, heaven forfend, they might be single mothers and everybody (who reads the Daily Mail) knows they are the scourge of Britain and responsible for all ills.

Apart from that, who can trust women to do something right with money?