Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing neonatal care leave and pay before April 2025.

We are committed to introducing Neonatal Care Leave and Pay as quickly as possible. Work is ongoing across Government to deliver these new entitlements.

Delivery requires updates to HM Revenue and Customs IT systems, support for employers and payroll providers to implement changes, guidance for employers and individuals, and for Parliamentary consideration of a significant amount of secondary legislation. These actions will take approximately 18 months.

It is also necessary to align the ‘go live’ date with the start of a tax year. This means April 2025 is the earliest date for the introduction of Neonatal Care Leave and Pay.