Asked by: Lord Bishop of Durham (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Living Wage Foundation's "Living Hours" standard; and what steps they are taking to encourage employers to adopt that standard.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Government commends employers who are able to go above the requirements of minimum wage and employment legislation. However, the Living Wage Foundation are clear that their measures are voluntary.
Our statutory minimum wage rates are based on the expert and independent advice of the Low Pay Commission; the LPC takes into account the impacts on workers, businesses and the wider economy to ensure a fair balance is struck.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Durham (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of people employed in insecure work; and what steps they are taking to ensure that more employees have secure work.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Government has taken a range of steps to support people in insecure work. We have supported six Private Members’ Bills in this Parliamentary session, which will give benefits including easier access to flexible working and a more predictable working pattern.
In April 2023, we increased the National Living Wage by 9.7%, the largest ever cash increase. We have extended the ban on using exclusivity clauses to the lowest paid, ensuring an estimated 1.5 million people have the option to pick up extra work.
We closed an unfair loophole to stop agency workers being employed on cheaper rates than permanent workers.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Durham (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the joint report by the Centre for Progressive Policy, Pregnant Then Screwed and Women in Data Leave in the lurch: Paternity leave, gender equality and the UK economy, published on 15 June, what plans they have to adopt the recommendation contained in that report to increase statutory paid leave entitlement for fathers.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Government recently announced changes to make Paternity Leave easier for fathers and partners to take. These changes will provide more choice and flexibility over when the leave can be taken, including allowing it to be split into two separate blocks of one week over a 52-week period.
The standard rate of Statutory Paternity Pay is reviewed annually. From April 2023, it increased by September's Consumer Price Index figure of 10.1 per cent to £172.48.
There are no further changes currently planned for Paternity Leave and Pay.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Durham (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of increasing fathers' entitlement to paid leave on (1) gender inequalities in pay, (2) career progression, (3) employment, (4) the provision of childcare, and (5) the mental health of both parents.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
As set out in our Manifesto, the Government is committed to making it easier for fathers and partners to take Paternity Leave.
In 2019 we consulted on high-level options and principles for reforming the parental leave and pay system. The recently published response sets out changes which include enabling fathers to take Paternity Leave in two separate blocks of one week at any time in the first year. Allowing fathers to take time off work towards the end of the mother’s 52 weeks of Maternity Leave could also allow fathers to solo parent whilst supporting mothers to return to work.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Durham (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the survey conducted by the group Pregnant Then Screwed in June 2022 which found that shared parental leave was only used by between two and eight per cent of eligible couples, what steps they are taking to encourage more parents to use shared parental leave.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The number of parents taking Shared Parental Pay has increased in line with predications made when the policy was introduced and has doubled between 2015-16 and 2021-22.
In June 2021, the Government introduced the Shared Parental Leave tool on gov.uk which supports parents to plan their leave. The tool has received positive feedback from users on both its ability to support the planning of Shared Parental Leave and facilitate conversations between parents and employers.