Oral Answers to Questions

Gareth Thomas Excerpts

Wednesday 7th July 2021 Commons Chamber

[Gareth Thomas (Harrow West) (Lab/Co-op)]

What further steps she plans to take to tackle maternity discrimination.

[Alison Thewliss (Glasgow Central) (SNP)]

What steps the Government is taking to tackle pregnancy and maternity discrimination in the labour market.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Paul Scully)]

The Government recognise the importance of tackling pregnancy and maternity discrimination, which is why we will extend the redundancy protection period for six months once a new mother has returned to work and provide similar protections for those parents taking adoption leave and shared parental leave. We will bring these measures forward as soon as parliamentary time allows.

[Gareth Thomas]

As a devastating Equality and Human Rights Commission report highlighted some five years ago, and certainly given the experience of too many of my constituents, discrimination against pregnant women and new mothers is still widespread. When will the Government actually get their act together and bring in the legislation they have promised to stop employers making women redundant during pregnancy, and until at least six months after they have returned from maternity leave?

[Paul Scully]

The hon. Gentleman makes an important point, but legislation can only ever be part of the answer, which is why we have committed to bring together key business and family representative groups to tackle the questions on organisational culture and to ensure that women and employers know their rights. We will introduce legislative measures when parliamentary time allows.