Young parents should get direct grant payments, MSPs told

Idea proposed as a way to give parents autonomy

Published 10th May 2018
Last updated 10th May 2018

Young parents eligible for a grant to boost low incomes under the new Scottish social security system should not have the money paid to their baby's grandparent, MSPs have heard. The Best Start Grant of up to £1,100 replaces the UK Government's Sure Start Maternity Grant in Scotland.

It will be one of the first of the 11 benefits to be paid out by the new Scottish welfare system.

Clare Simpson, manager of family charities partnership Parenting Across Scotland, raised concerns over current plans for eligible 16 and 17-year-olds to have the grant paid to their baby's grandparent or carer rather than directly to the new parent themselves.

Giving evidence to the Scottish Parliament's Social Security Committee, she said she had spoken to organisations who work with young families and to teenage parents about the issue and “without exception” was told the payments should be made directly to the parents.

She said: “People felt that we allow people in this country to marry at 16, which implies that we allow them to start a family.

“And if we think they are capable of that responsibility, then I think we need to give them the money to do so and empower them to become young parents and to spend the money as they wish.”

Sonya Scott, consultant in public health medicine for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, told the committee she also backed direct payments for teenage parents.

She said: “I think that respects their autonomy and it also gives a message of trust. Trust that they will be considered in how they use the grant.”

She said support and advice on how the money could be used “sensibly” could be included in information given along with the grant.

The Best Start Grant increases the current UK Government support from £500 to £1,100 for a first child and from zero to £800 for the second and all subsequent children.

The payments are split into a £600 birth payment for the first child and £300 for the second and all subsequent children, followed in all cases by two payments of £250 when the youngster can access a nursery place and when he or she starts primary school.

A public consultation on how the means-tested grant will operate runs until June 15