We'd like your views about the Health in Pregnancy grant and Child Trust Funds

[RowanMumsnet]

We've been asked to canvass your views about the Savings Accounts and Health in Pregnancy Bill, which is currently making its way through parliament. The bill concerns three schemes introduced by the previous Labour Government: the Child Trust Fund, the Saving Gateway, and the Health in Pregnancy Grant. These are now deemed to be unaffordable by the Coalition Government and will be brought to a close by the provisions of the Bill.

So if you've any strong (or lukewarm) feelings about the CTFs or the HiP grant, do please post them here. They will be fed back to the Commons Committee that is considering the Bill.

[RowanMumsnet]

Thanks for all your contributions; we've sent the thread on to the committee that requested it. If we get any feedback, we'll let you know.

[WhitePeacock]

Agree HiP grant ill-thought-out and dim - I thought as I came up to the 25 week mark that it would be far better given as dedicated healthy grub vouchers in the all-important first 12 weeks, or scrapped and the money saved used to give pregnant women free swimming sessions as USED TO BE THE CASE for kids and pensioners - something of direct and immediate benefit, not something that as many other posters have said just got blued on general baby stuff (guilty).

CTF - The principle I thought was amazing - the idea that every child was of equal worth to the State and had a future worth investing in. Better though to overhaul the structure of the accounts available, to make them more rewarding and user-friendly for people unused to investment, allow greater contributions etc than to be handing out what seem like arbitrary amounts and topping up at arbitrary age of 7 - that's my tuppence ha'pennyworth.

[Eleison]

I'd be really interested to have some feedback about how this information has been used, what form of words the agency requesting it has put into whatever report it was contributing to, and indeed which agency exactly it was that requested the thread. The committee? A Whitehall agency?

The tickbox consultation culture has already lead to hosts of inadequate consultations, and if govt (or parl) is going to be using an online community as a quick and easy shortcut to saying that they have consulted with 1000000 women (or whatever number it is that MN claims to reach) then we do have a very strong obligation to oversee how they are doing this.

[Guacamohohohole]

Honestly... IMO the HiP is a waste of money. I can't see how giving away money will make anyone more healthy in their approach to food, only education will do that. I bought my baby's car seat and isofix system with mine.
The CTF I think is a relatively good idea, I am paying into it for my son and I'm not sure I would have got around to it without the CTF. Especially now with the rise in tuition fees, saving for our children's future is even more important than ever. I don't think it needs to be as much as £250 and I don't think it's necessary for the Government to top it up at age 7. However I think I prefer the idea of a different type of savings account, rather than a Trust Fund, for example a Children's ISA that can be accessed when required rather than at 18, for example for a big school trip, driving lessons etc... We should encourage our children to save as well, I can't imagine any child would put their birthday money into a Trust Fund that they cannot access until their 18.
Finally I have no experience of 'The Saving Gateway', in fact, I've never heard of it?!

[bobblemeat]

Also, Re CTF I think something should be put in place for children who already have these accounts to enable an adult to stop 18 year olds with a substance abuse problem from getting the money and spending it all on drugs.

[PlentyOfPockets]

I wish this help had been there when I needed it.

[Eleison]

Oh, yes, and what Lenin said, too.

And a question: will the cuts imposed following the Spending Review be assessed for their impact on equality between men and women? The loss of HiP will be another cut targeted at women, which will build futher on the unequal burden for women generated by the emergency budget. A lot of people on MN are very interested in the Fawcett Society's call for judicial review of that budget.

[bobblemeat]

HIP - Waste of money and adds to the general feeling of its impossible to eat healthily and cheaply so why bother trying.

CTF - I'm outraged that someone is handing my 18 year old a big pile of beer money less than a month before A levels begin. I am beyond pissed off about it. I also don't like the implication that its the responsibility of govenment and parents to save big piles of cash for adult children. Why can't they work and save for themselves? It won't be long until all the 'nobody put nothing in my ctf' moaning is added to the general moaning people with no sense of individual responsibility do.

I think winter fuel payments need to be looked at. My friend and her DH both get them even though they both work FT in senior positions and have a holiday home in spain.

[CheeseandGherkins]

"I just wish they'd bite the bullet and cut winter fuel payments and free bus passes for the wealthy elderly! HRTaxpaying elderlies shouldn't be getting these freebies!"

This

And what Lenin said.

[Eleison]

I'm interested in ISNT's question 'Will this come out as "MN mothers support govt spending cuts" I wonder.'

Even tho MN isn't a third sector org, I guess its enlistment by the government into this kind of consultative process might make the provisions of the Compact (the agreement that sets out shared principles and guidelines for effective partnership working between government and the third sector in England) relevant. These include a commitment to

"be clear about whose views are being represented and what those views are. This includes explaining whether views have been gathered directly (and from what audience)..."

which in this case I guess means making clear from the number of hits on the webpage how many people have seen the consultation request, how many have responded, etc.

I used to work in the third sector and I know how desultory the govt's response to consultations can be, even within the relatively formal consultation arrangements of the third sector partnership structures.

I guess that govt has developed good practice arrangements for consultation with non third-sector online communities? It would be really good if MN could link to these, so we know what we are getting involved in and how our responses will be used.

[edam]

what Lenin said. The lion's share of the cuts are being borne by women, children and the poor. In what world is this 'fair'? In what way are 'we all in this together'?

Don't really care about child trust funds, they can take them away tomorrow as far as I'm concerned.

[ISNT]

Thing about the CTF was that the vast vast majority of the accounts to put it into were linked to the stock market. the govt leaflets all advised to put it into accounts linked to the stock market. So it was just really a way of the govt pumping a whole load of taxpayers money into the stock market long term (each one tied in for 18 years).

Also what Lenin said.

[itshailingitspouring]

I think the original idea with HIP was to extend child benefit backwards so it started in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy, not with birth. Then they got cold feet about it and wanted to make it more easily cuttable - easier to cut a grant than to fiddle around with child benefit (ho hum). Now we have BOTH the grant AND the CB being slashed.

I liked the CTF, and the stats show that it has meant that more money is saved for more children at all income levels. But really is just another example of something the state shouldn't get involved with.

I just wish they'd bite the bullet and cut winter fuel payments and free bus passes for the wealthy elderly! HRTaxpaying elderlies shouldn't be getting these freebies!

[ethelina]

The HiP was nice but like others i didnt spend it on healthy eating, I think we just bought... actually i dont remember.
I'm in 2 minds about the CTF. We got the £50 and haven't looked in depth at where to put it, unsure if an ISA in DS's nsme would be worth more.

I think there are probably more worthwhile places to put this government money.

[ISNT]

These benefits should all have been targeted at those who needed them, and then they could have been higher ie enough to make a real difference.

[ariane5]

the sure start maternity grant has to have been the silliest idea ever.fair enough if you are on a low income you need it to buy the basics but i know of one person who had 4 babies over 8 years got the grant for all four! thats £2000 of taxpayers money and she would have had all the baby equipment she needed from the first child.

Iam a single parent and qualified for it with all 3 of my dc BUT i chose not to claim for the second 2 as i didnt need it as already had buggy etc etc and i felt it would have been wrong to just pocket money that i didnt need.

hip grant i did get with last pregnancy and yes it was spent on healthy food.but i still think it is an unnecessary grant.i dont agree with child benefit cuts etc though.

[Sidge]

I think they are a complete waste of money.

Parents should be responsible for their own and their children's health and financial affairs, not rely on Government handouts.

I am mildly resentful that taxpayers money is being given to pregnant women to spend on prams, clothes and fluffy teddies. I don't know one single pregnant woman who has used her HIP grant to buy anything remotely related to good health.

[Tinkerisdead]

The CTF is the only savings account I use for my DD. And that is reluctant. I actually save money in my own name for her instead.

The CTF really put me off as at 18 the child has access to that money and I have no say. It really concerns me that at 18 my child may be like my brother and squander it all on drugs...or be like me and use it as a deposit on a house etc etc.

I wish I hadn't had the voucher as no doubt any other DC's I have will not receive the same, its going to cause problems as DD now has money coming to her at 18 that my other DCs wont have and I cant do a thing about it.

I choose to save my own money with a view that when and of they are old/responsible enough to use it wisely then I will give them a lump sum as I see fit. Not when the government thinks they have come of age!

[4andnotout]

HIP and CFT were a big fat waste of time and cash.

I haven't been pregnant at a time to be eligable for the Hip but from people I know that received then they certainly didn't get spent on anything healthy!

The Ctf was pointless as dd1 never received one and we can't afford to top up the rest of the dd's so by the time they are 18 they will be worthless.

[ISNT]

These things I always thought were pretty stupid.

The other cuts they are making, I am livid about.

Will this come out as "MN mothers support govt spending cuts" I wonder.

[ANTagony]

Currently 29 weeks with no.3 and have just had my HIP grant. Its in the bank, all money gratefully received but isn't it a bit late for thinking about my health now? Not sure that it will make a blind bit of difference to what I eat/ my lifestyle. I'm trying to get a bit of exercise each day and like lots of fruit and veg anyway.

Wouldn't free pregnancy vitamins via midwife from when you first find out be far more relevant and cheaper to administer?

The CTF was a nonsense. The admin costs and fees they charge appear higher than a savings account you can get yourself. Also not sure that giving children a cash sum at 18 is wise. Would rather that the funds be directed into something i.e. uni fees or 18+ training support, new business investment or in place of the other thing being scraped to give kids who stay in education post 16 a bit of pocket money.

I like the idea of a savings account for children but again my concern is that not many 18 year olds are responsible enough to administer a large chunk of money. £40k (+ inflation) savings over a childs life to 18 would be great (if only) but if they had their hands on that money at 18 would it really last the three/ four years of Uni and pay the fees and living? I do try to put away for mine when ever there is anything spare, my parents are doing the same but we want to have control over how they receive this money so that it is used constructively and not on a blow out round the world trip, their girl/ boyfriends 18th Birthday or a car with noisy stereo and wide tyres.

[ariane5]

health in pregnancy grant should have been given as healthy start vouchers then there would have been no option than to use it for the intended purpose.

ctf is unnecessary and a waste of money,i hate to say it but i expect only a small proportion of 18 year olds will receive the money and use it for something sensible (i know that i wouldnt have unfortunately!)

sure start maternity grant should definately be restricted to first child only and the amount reduced as it is possible to get everything you need for one baby for a lot less than the £500 they are giving people, it should be more like £300. I managed to get everything for that amount so it is possible.

[StealthPomBear]

no, I agree Indith, it was done to 'improve' antenatal care on paper while doing nothing to actually improve the health of the mother and baby.
Also agree it should have been done earlier on, but of course there are issues and complications around that. It was never workable.

[DinahRod]

Have no objection to these going; Child Benefit otoh I am far more aggrieved at and fundamentally opposed....

HIP is available after 25 weeks in pg - why? Pointless waste of money.

CTF - I initially topped up my dcs accounts and then realised there were more effective ways to save. A nice idea - given now the soaring cost of university fees - but given the state of the economy, not one the govt ought to be funding.