Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Kelly Tolhurst and Eddie Hughes

Tuesday 22nd October 2019 Commons Chamber

[Eddie Hughes (Walsall North) (Con)]

13. What steps she has taken to ensure that new mothers can participate in the workplace.

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

The Government are wholly committed to women’s participation in the workforce, including by supporting new mothers to return to, and thrive in, work. That is why we recently consulted on a broad range of proposals to help families to balance their work and home commitments. We have also announced our intention to extend redundancy protection to new mothers returning to work.

[Eddie Hughes]

I thank the Minister for that answer. What support are the Government giving to new mothers who, sadly, have experienced stillbirth?

[Kelly Tolhurst]

First, I pay tribute to my hon. Friend and Members across the House who participated in Baby Loss Awareness Week and the emotional debate in the House. The Government have committed to introducing parental bereavement leave and pay, which will apply to parents who lose a child under the age of 18, including parents with stillbirth. We plan to lay the regulations to implement the policy in January, ready to come into force on 6 April. That will support new mothers facing these tragic and difficult circumstances.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Kelly Tolhurst and Eddie Hughes

Wednesday 12th June 2019 Commons Chamber

[Kelly Tolhurst]

The hon. Lady will know that the consultation, which finished in April, dealt with that very issue. However, we also sought views on the position of parents who have been on adoption leave or shared parental leave and are returning to work. As I have said, we are looking through the 600 responses to the consultation and are keen to publish the results as soon as possible. Let me emphasise, however, that the law is clear: discrimination against pregnant women coming back from maternity leave is unlawful.

[Eddie Hughes (Walsall North) (Con)]

6. What steps the Government are taking to tackle period poverty (a) in the UK and (b) overseas.