Business of the House Debate

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Department: Leader of the House
Thursday 14th June 2018

(6 years, 2 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Melanie Onn Portrait Melanie Onn (Great Grimsby) (Lab)
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When does the Leader of the House plan to allow this House to debate the Procedure Committee report into baby leave?

Andrea Leadsom Portrait Andrea Leadsom
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As I have said on a number of occasions, I am absolutely supportive of the need for new parents to have that essential time to form an early bond with their babies. I am very grateful to the Procedure Committee, which has tried to look at what is quite a significant constitutional change—[Interruption.] As the hon. Lady and other Opposition Members are pointing out, they are themselves members of the Procedure Committee. I am extremely grateful to them for their work on trying to address these issues. They will appreciate that this requires quite a significant constitutional change. It is important to ensure we have the right solution that provides parents with that opportunity to be with their babies. I intend to bring forward a general debate within the next few weeks to inform a broader range of discussion that will enable me to respond to the Procedure Committee’s report. I believe that is due by 15 July.