LIFE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Early day motion 664, tabled 20 January 1998 by Lord Campbell-Savours (Labour). Signed by 97 members.

That this House warmly congratulates the national charity LIFE on its work for pregnant women and lone mothers; notes that, since LIFE began in 1970, its care service has handled nearly two million calls for help and provided accommodation for hundreds of homeless pregnant women; notes that LIFE's care service and housing programme take a considerable burden off statutory services; further notes that 150,000 signatures were gathered in six weeks to a national petition, presented to the Prime Minister on 27th October last, asking for Government funding of its care work and housing; calls upon the Government to consider directly allocating to LIFE a modest grant to enable it to expand its important work; is assured by the Trustees of LIFE that any such grant would be used to upgrade its major counselling and care centres throughout the United Kingdom, to expand the counselling service provided by its national hotline, to open additional houses for homeless pregnant women and to acquire purpose-built move-on accommodation for one-parent families; believes that such support would help to secure a more balanced allocation of taxpayers' money in the provision of care for women facing problem pregnancies and homelessness, and would enhance women's freedom of choice; and further believes that LIFE's housing programme will contribute to Her Majesty's Government's Welfare to Work policies.

Signatures by party: Labour 35, Conservative 28, Liberal Democrat 17, UUP 7, Labour/Co-operative 3, Social Democratic and Labour Party 3, Scottish National Party 2, DUP 1, Plaid Cymru 1.