Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing a statutory entitlement to paid leave for carers.

The 2019 manifesto committed to introduce one week of leave for unpaid carers. The Government consulted on proposals to deliver this commitment in 2020. The Government response to this consultation confirmed that Carer’s Leave will be a day 1 right, available to all employees who are providing care for a dependant with a long-term care need. Eligible employees will be entitled to 5 days of unpaid leave per year, which will be available to take flexibly in individual or half days.