Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to (a) reports of pregnant women being unlawfully sent home on statutory sick pay or unpaid leave during the covid-19 lockdown announced in March 2020 rather than being suspended on full pay or furloughed and (b) guidance published by the Department for Health and Social Care and the Health and Safety Executive on 23 December 2020 stating that women in their third trimester are at greater risk of severe illness if they catch covid-19, for what reason HMRC's guidance, Claim for wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, updated December 2020, does not provide guidance on pregnant women.

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) guidance is clear that those who are clinically extremely vulnerable, or at the highest risk of severe illness from coronavirus and following public health guidance, are eligible for the CJRS. It is for the employer to decide whether to offer to furlough an employee.

Queries about the definition of the clinically extremely vulnerable group should be directed towards the Department for Health and Social Care in England, or the appropriate devolved authorities for the equivalent most at-risk groups in other UK nations.

While there is no obligation for employers to take up the scheme, the scheme has been open to all UK employers provided they meet the eligibility criteria.