Recommendation 5

Like the House of Commons’ proxy voting for parental absence scheme, the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority’s (IPSA) new MP parental leave cover fund is a major step forward. It is an important part of a raft of measures in recent years that make the House of Commons a more welcoming and accommodating place for MPs who are, or want to be, parents. However, in mirroring the entitlements of the proxy voting scheme, granting only two weeks leave cover for biological fathers, it entrenches damaging gender assumptions about primary responsibility for childcare. Like the proxy voting scheme, it makes no explicit reference to arrangements for parents of children born through surrogacy. We agree with Professor Childs that IPSA’s scheme should set a better example. We recommend that IPSA consult on extending the current support offered through the MP parental leave cover fund to biological fathers, partners and second adopters so that it is line with best workplace practice and supports the objective of enabling women and men to share childcare responsibilities. IPSA should also make clear the arrangements for parents of children born through surrogacy.