Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether her Department is taking steps to encourage employers to offer (a) leave and (b) pay for neonatal care before the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023 comes into force.

The Government is committed to introducing Neonatal Care Leave and Pay 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.

The Government encourages employers to respond with compassion and understanding to any employee who is dealing with the challenge of having a child in neonatal care. It will be up to individual employers to consider whether they can offer leave or pay to their employees before the Act comes into force.