Women and Equalities Committee to hear evidence on paternity and shared parental leave

• Wednesday, 26 February 2.20pm
• Inquiry: Equality at work: Paternity and shared parental leave
• Venue: Committee Room 8, Palace of Westminster
• Watch live: Visit parliamentlive.tv
• Women and Equalities Committee

MPs on the cross-party committee chaired by Labour MP Sarah Owen will discuss the current landscape amid the Government's planned "full review" of the parental leave system, particularly its scope, evidence gathering and consultation processes. Unequal division of childcaring responsibilities is a key driver of wider gender inequality and the gender pay gap.

Panel one comprises dads, campaigners and practitioners representing the views and needs of mothers, fathers and other co-parents, children and families. Panel two is made up of academics and researchers. Discussion is expected to focus on the economic, social and cultural implications of parental leave legislation and policies and comparative studies of parental leave systems in other countries.

Witnesses         

(at 2.20pm)

Panel 1

• Joeli Brearley, Founder and Director, Pregnant Then Screwed
• Karla Capstick, Director, A Better Start Nottingham, The National Children's Bureau
• Alex Lloyd Hunter, Co-founder, The Dad Shift

(at 3.20 approx)

Panel 2

• Dr Sarah Forbes, Senior Lecturer, University of York, and Co-Director of The Equal Parenting Project
• Abby Jitendra, Principal Policy Adviser, Joseph Rowntree Foundation
• Dr Gemma Mitchell, Associate Professor in Law, University of East Anglia
• Jemima Olchawski, Chief Executive Officer, The Fawcett Society

Further information

• About Parliament: Select committees
• Visiting Parliament: Watch committees

Image: House of Commons