Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the proposal to introduce paid carer’s leave on labour market participation.

As part of the review of employment rights for unpaid carers, DBT has engaged extensively with over 100 stakeholders to assess how any potential further support for unpaid carers may impact gender equality in the workplace, workforce retention and labour market participation. This has been accompanied by commissioned quantitative and qualitative research. Responses to our consultation on employment rights for unpaid carers and parents of seriously ill children will also contribute to the full options assessment being conducted as part of the review. We expect the review to conclude by the end of 2026.