PREGNANCY GRANT IS A TYPICAL NEW LABOUR GIMMICK - LAMB

11.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sun 9th Sep 2007

Commenting on reports that the Government will introduce a one-off payment for women seven months pregnant to encourage them to have better diets, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, Norman Lamb MP said: "The scheme would be an abject waste of taxpayers' money. It smacks of a typical New Labour gimmick that tries to address a serious social issue by throwing money at it."

"The proposal serves to highlight the shameful health inequalities that have embarrassingly widened under this Government."

"There needs to be far more done to get across the value of healthy diets, especially during pregnancy, but this sort of state handout will likely achieve nothing of any substance."