Asked by: Sarah Russell (Labour - Congleton)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to increase uptake of paternity leave.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Government recognises the current system could do more to support the many dads and partners who want to be more actively involved in supporting their partner and take on a more equal role in caring for their children.
We are currently undertaking a Review of the Parental Leave and Pay system. This will conclude in early 2027 with a set of findings which will outline next steps for taking any potential reforms forward to implementation.
Current Parental Leave and Pay entitlements and use of those entitlements are in scope of the Review, including Paternity Leave and Pay.
Asked by: Sarah Russell (Labour - Congleton)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, with reference to the Annual statistics of scientific procedures on living animals, Great Britain 2025, published in July 2026, what steps he is taking to replace the use of dogs in science with human-specific technologies.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 7 September 2026 in response to Question 27845, which refers to the answer provided on 30 June 2026 in response to Question 11617.
Asked by: Sarah Russell (Labour - Congleton)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential benefits of increasing the statutory entitlement to paternity leave.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
Through the Employment Rights Act, we are making Paternity Leave a ‘day one’ right from 6 April this year. This will bring an extra 32,000 fathers and partners into scope of the entitlement.
The Government also launched the Parental Leave and Pay Review on 1 July 2025, which will consider all existing and upcoming parental leave entitlements, including Paternity Leave and Pay. The Review will conclude in early 2027 with a set of findings in which the Government will outline next steps for taking any reforms forward to implementation.
Asked by: Sarah Russell (Labour - Congleton)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what progress his Department has made on improving parental rights for workers in (a) Congleton constituency and (b) Cheshire.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
This Government is dedicated to improving rights for working parents. In April, we are making Unpaid Parental Leave and Paternity Leave day-one rights, as well as introducing Bereaved Partners Paternity Leave.
In 2027, we will further improve protections for pregnant women and those returning from Maternity Leave. These reforms will benefit millions of employees across the country.
We also know that more can be done to support working parents. The ongoing Parental Leave and Pay Review is looking at all parental leave entitlements and will conclude next year, informing our next steps.
Asked by: Sarah Russell (Labour - Congleton)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to implement the provisions of the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government is committed to implementing the provisions of the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023 as soon as possible. Once in place, up to 12 weeks of paid leave will be available to all eligible parents of babies who are admitted into neonatal care.