Petitions Committee asks the Government to clarify its plans on new parents’ employment rights

• Read the Committee’s letter
• Petitions Committee

In the letter dated 24 May, Catherine McKinnell asks for more information on how the Government intends to deliver on its commitments to extend the rights and protections given to new parents in work. It previously gave these commitments in response to the Petitions Committee’s work on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on new parents.

The Government had said it would address the Committee’s concerns by:

• Extending statutory redundancy protections for new and expectant mothers into the period after they return to work; and
• Introducing entitlements to leave and pay for parents of babies receiving neonatal care

These changes were expected to be included in an Employment Bill, but this Bill was not included in the Queen's Speech. The Queen’s Speech sets out the Government’s plans for new laws, and changes to existing laws, for the parliamentary year ahead.

The Government’s response will be published on the Committee’s website when it is received.

Further information

• Find out more about the role of the Petitions Committee
• Find out more about select committees

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