Maternity Commissioner

Baroness Shawcross-Wolfson Excerpts

Wednesday 4th March 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

The noble Lord gets to the point of what the taskforce will be doing. It would be wrong of me to try to pre-empt the outcomes and recommendations that come forward. As I have said before, right through this work, the voices of families and women in particular must be paramount. I am delighted that the Secretary of State has personally met representatives from around the country and is taking a very hands-on role to make sure that we get the right outcome.

[Baroness Shawcross-Wolfson (Con)]

My Lords, the noble Baroness, Lady Amos, herself said:

“I do not understand why change has been so slow”.


Can the Minister set out with a little more clarity the timeline for the national taskforce to meet and produce its own set of recommendations and, crucially, when families can expect to see those recommendations implemented?

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

The first meeting of the taskforce is imminent. Obviously, it ties in with the review publishing its final recommendations and making sure that the right people are in the room and that they have the right call to evidence to move forward. As I have said, pace, action and delivery are fundamental to this work. Families across the country have suffered for too long and we are determined to take action that will help in this area.