Source · Select Committees · Petitions Committee
First Report: The impact of Covid-19 on maternity and parental leave
Petitions Committee
HC 526
Published 6 July 2020
Recommendations
1
Not Addressed
Para 15
The Government’s response has argued that the UK’s maternity leave offer is already amongst the...
Recommendation
The Government’s response has argued that the UK’s maternity leave offer is already amongst the most generous in the world. Although up to 52 weeks leave is generous compared to other countries, the amount of maternity pay is not the …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government's response does not address the recommendation to capture data on the uptake of parental leave and pay, instead focusing on defending the generosity and flexibility of existing maternity leave arrangements and rejecting the idea of extending entitlements.
12
Not Addressed
Para 57
New parents have missed out on vital support from professionals such as health visitors to...
Recommendation
New parents have missed out on vital support from professionals such as health visitors to baby classes and groups. We’ve heard how important this support is for parental mental health and for helping to lay the foundation for parenting, family …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government states community health services continued support during the pandemic and that health visitor resources are a matter for local authorities. It mentions general funding for local authorities and charities but does not commit to additional catch-up support specifically targeted at new parents.
19
Not Addressed
We welcome the Government’s introduction of testing for members of the public.
Recommendation
We welcome the Government’s introduction of testing for members of the public. However, priority testing should be made available for parents of babies in neonatal care. No parent should be separated unnecessarily from their newborn for any longer that they …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government states that asymptomatic testing is conducted where clinically appropriate and that decisions on COVID-19 testing are made by individual NHS Trusts based on their own risk assessments, without committing to prioritising rapid testing for parents of babies in neonatal care.
Conclusions (1)
4
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Para 26
The Government has suggested that women can be furloughed as a means of extending their maternity leave and delaying their return to work. However, access to the scheme is reliant on employers’ consent, rather than parents having a right to it, and there are strict limitations to whom it can …
Government Response Summary
The government explained the purpose and temporary nature of the CJRS, confirming that employers are not obliged to use the scheme, and reiterated existing health and safety requirements for pregnant employees, without directly addressing the committee's concerns about fairness and realism for many new parents.