Source · Select Committees · Petitions Committee
First Report - Impact of Covid-19 on new parents: one year on
Petitions Committee
HC 479
Published 7 October 2021
Recommendations
12
Not Addressed
Para 43
We recommend that the Government urgently engage with the Health and Safety Executive and relevant...
Recommendation
We recommend that the Government urgently engage with the Health and Safety Executive and relevant stakeholder groups to review HSE’s monitoring and enforcement activity specifically relating to employers’ health and safety obligations to pregnant women. Any barriers to at-scale enforcement …
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Government Response Summary
The government's response did not address the recommendation concerning the review of HSE's health and safety monitoring and enforcement for pregnant women or the requirement for HSE to record and publish related enforcement details. Instead, it discussed planned extensions of redundancy protections for new and expectant mothers.
14
Not Addressed
Para 50
We echo our recommendation from last year’s report that the Government should legislate as soon...
Recommendation
We echo our recommendation from last year’s report that the Government should legislate as soon as possible to introduce its planned extension of redundancy protections for new and expectant mothers. It must clarify a timeframe for doing this, and, if …
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Government Response Summary
The government's response did not address the recommendation to legislate urgently for extended redundancy protections for new and expectant mothers or provide a timeframe. Instead, it stated that the government is considering extending the time limit for bringing Equality Act 2010 cases to employment tribunals.
15
Not Addressed
We also repeat our previous recommendation that the Government should extend the period in which...
Recommendation
We also repeat our previous recommendation that the Government should extend the period in which new and expectant parents may bring claims to an employment tribunal. The Government must urgently conclude its work to consider this change and clarify when …
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Government Response Summary
The government's response focuses on current childcare provision, funding, and parental leave rights, without addressing the recommendation to extend the period for new and expectant parents to bring claims to an employment tribunal.
18
Not Addressed
We support the call of petitioners for an independent review into childcare funding and affordability.
Recommendation
We support the call of petitioners for an independent review into childcare funding and affordability. We recommend that the Government should commission such a review, to consider how to provide greater financial security to the sector following the pandemic, as …
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Government Response Summary
The government did not commit to commissioning an independent review into childcare funding and affordability. Instead, they highlighted a new £500 million investment package for families and early years, detailing specific allocations for mental health support, Family Hubs, and staff training.
20
Not Addressed
Para 64
Ahead of the 2021 Spending Review, we recommend that the Government assess which elements of...
Recommendation
Ahead of the 2021 Spending Review, we recommend that the Government assess which elements of the Best Start for Life Review’s implementation could be accelerated—in particular, opportunities to grow the health visiting workforce—and provide targeted funding to help achieve this.
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Government Response Summary
The government's response did not address the recommendation to assess and accelerate elements of the Best Start for Life Review implementation, particularly growing the health visiting workforce and providing targeted funding. Instead, it focused on the importance and safety of COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant women.