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Original poster

Is the government scrapping the health in pregnancy grant?

31 replies

JosephineClaire · 21/05/2010 15:37

That's pretty much it...

OP posts:
brockleybelle · 21/05/2010 15:43

I wondered this too. I guess they probably will.... Anyone got a reputable link?

NomDePlume · 21/05/2010 16:04

they should do, it's a farce.

shinyshoes · 21/05/2010 16:11

I agree it's a farce, get rid

goodnightmoon · 21/05/2010 21:26

I hope so, it's stupid.

azazello · 21/05/2010 21:28

I hope so. Its completely pointless - it shouldn't be a government grant to buy an expensive pram which it seems to be generally used for.

whomovedmychocolate · 21/05/2010 21:28

Such things will be included in the 30 day budget which will be released in a few weeks. I suspect it may indeed go. Along with grants for fairy wings and free gilding for every hunting dog

herbietea · 21/05/2010 21:28

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IMoveTheStars · 21/05/2010 21:29

I hope so too, it's idiotic. They may as well call it the 'buy a new pushchair' grant.

expatinscotland · 21/05/2010 21:30

here's hoping!

goodnightmoon · 21/05/2010 21:35

isn't it funny that the politicians are supposedly attuned to women's and family's concerns, yet there is virtually no support on mumsnet for this grant, or child trust funds?

good work labour!

clam · 21/05/2010 21:41

Was a bloody stupid idea in the first place. Get rid.

Do you reckon anyone actually used it for healthy fruit and veg?

venusonarockbun · 21/05/2010 21:54

Hurray.

floozietoozie · 27/05/2010 10:07

No offence ladies, but from your comments I'm guessing none of you are short of a spare £150 or so. That's not the case for thousands of women. I support both the hip grant and the ctf for the record.

llareggub · 27/05/2010 10:13

I would support the grant if it only went to people who need it. I spent mine on a post-pregnancy wardrobe, which I suppose you could argue benefited my mental health, at a stretch.

EddieIzzardismyhero · 27/05/2010 10:13

floozie, I think the point is that they're not means tested and the country can't afford to give either of these benefits to couples with plenty of money. The money needs to be redistributed to people who actually need it. Ditto child benefit.

Mumsnut · 27/05/2010 10:15

Amen, Eddie.

RibenaBerry · 28/05/2010 14:06

Floozie - no one is against more support for pregnant women in difficult financial circumstances. It's just that CTF and HiP were ill thought out (money for an 18th birthday booze up anyone?), badly targetted and luxuries we can't afford.

It's the typical mindset of the political elite when it comes to 'womens issues'. Chuck cursory amounts of money around left right and centre. If we had a real feminist agenda in our politics, there would be proper talk about supporting pregnant women. Like doing something about the woefully low level of SMP after 6 weeks, just off the top of my head. Or how about a decent chunk of money for women on the lowest incomes?

Brollyflower · 28/05/2010 20:04

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lal123 · 28/05/2010 20:07

Just to mention that the purpose of the HIP grant isn't to buy fruit and veg etc. Its to encourage women who otherwise wouldn't have antenatal care to have it and to get the routine advice from health professionals re a healthy pregnancy. I've no idea whether it works or not, haven't seen any evaluation? Agree though that without robust evaluation proving that it met its objectives it seems like a waste of money. Mine just went into bank account and frittered away on the usual stuff

nymphadora · 28/05/2010 20:08

The sure start grant should stay (even if they reduce it) but the HEalthy pg one should go. I wont turn it down though if it's still around in 6 weeks I am eating at least a punnet of strawberries a day so surely that counts!

SanctiMoanyArse · 28/05/2010 20:10

People who need it already get a surestart grant- low income and those with disabled children

Not sure why we need hip as well?

You can habve our CTF back as long as my carers isn;t touched. CTF a waste of space.

chegggersplayspop · 28/05/2010 20:13

I agree with it in principle, ie if it goes to those who need it and used on the right things - difficult to enforce in practice.

I do think the CTF are a good idea though, and its a shame these are being canned.

RibenaBerry · 28/05/2010 20:33

ooh, see I totally agree with canning CFT.

People on tight incomes can't afford to top them up. People on higher incomes don't because of the the money has to be released at 18. I'd love to know what percentage of people iattually pay in.

I also think that, whilst we have so many children living in poverty, we don't have the luxury of paying people to start off a nest egg. Sad but true. The money can be far better used (although the reality is that it will be used to cut the defecit, not new initiatives for child poverty)

chegggersplayspop · 28/05/2010 21:19

This is an interesting article, which has some statistics on topping up

littleducks · 28/05/2010 21:23

I hope the HIP goes and believe me i cant afford to write of £150 at all, but the idea is just so stupid

I think that if it was ever about healthy eating they should have just extended the free fruit/veg/milk vouchers (healthy start) that mums on benefits get

£150 cash to every pregnant women is a total waste of money