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Select Committee · Petitions Committee

Impact of Covid-19 on new parents: one year on

Status: Closed Opened: 5 Jul 2021 Closed: 21 Feb 2022 18 recommendations 8 conclusions 1 report

One year on from the publication of its report on the impact of Covid-19 on maternity and parental leave, the Petitions Committee will hear from expert witnesses about the progress made against the problems identified and recommendations made to the Government in the report.

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
First Report - Impact of Covid-19 on new parents: one year… HC 479 7 Oct 2021 26 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

3 items
1 Conclusion First Report - Impact of Covid-19 on n… Acknowledged

Since last July, new and expectant parents have continued to face severe limits on the...

Since last July, new and expectant parents have continued to face severe limits on the formal and informal support for their wellbeing and their child’s development that they would normally expect. Following a further 12 months of restrictions, the cohort of parents and children in need of catch-up support is …

Government response. The government acknowledges the concerns by detailing significant investments, including 26 new hubs for integrated care, specialist perinatal mental health services nationwide, expansion of Mother and Baby units, and £100 million for bespoke mental health support for new and expectant …
9 Conclusion First Report - Impact of Covid-19 on n… Acknowledged

We welcome the Government’s confirmation of the increased Adoption Support Fund budget for 2021–22.

We welcome the Government’s confirmation of the increased Adoption Support Fund budget for 2021–22. We agree with our witnesses that long-term funding for this initiative should be made available, as part of comprehensive and ongoing support for adoptive parents to overcome the challenges they have faced during covid-19.

Government response. The government states that the Adoption Strategy includes proposals for improving adoption services, and an evaluation of the Adoption Support Fund's expanded scope was published. The findings from this evaluation and a wider internal review will be considered in future …
21 Conclusion First Report - Impact of Covid-19 on n… Acknowledged

We welcome the steps taken by the Government and the NHS to provide pregnant women...

We welcome the steps taken by the Government and the NHS to provide pregnant women with relevant information as the vaccine rollout continues and as social restrictions are eased. It is vital these efforts are maintained so that pregnant women are effectively supported to protect themselves from covid-19. In particular, …

Government response. The government acknowledged the committee's welcome for their vaccination efforts by reiterating the effectiveness and safety of COVID-19 vaccines for pregnant women, detailing various communication and awareness campaigns, and confirming that pregnant women are now a priority group for vaccination.

Oral evidence sessions

1 session
Date Witnesses
14 Jul 2021 Bethany Power, Petition signatory · Private citizen, Dr Sarah McMullen · NCT (National Childbirth Trust), Emily Tredget · Happity, Joeli Brearley · Pregnant Then Screwed, Neil Leitch · Early Years Alliance, Rosalind Bragg · Maternity Action, Sally Hogg · Parent-Infant Foundation, Sue Armstrong Brown · Adoption UK View ↗

Correspondence

1 letter
DateDirectionTitle
15 Dec 2021 — Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Vaccines and…