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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department has taken to prepare the Government systems that administer statutory payments in advance of the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Bill receiving Royal Assent.

The Government is committed to implementing Neonatal Care Leave and Pay as soon as possible. To deliver this entitlement, it will be necessary to make changes to HMRC systems and for employers and payroll providers to have sufficient notice to update their pay systems.  It will also be necessary to have extensive secondary legislation and guidance in place. This work is estimated to take around 18 months following Royal Assent.

BEIS officials are discussing with HMRC and payroll providers whether it is possible to reduce this timeline.