Source · Select Committees · Women and Equalities Committee
Recommendation 6
6
Deferred
Prioritise extending statutory paternity leave to address gender disparity in parental responsibilities
Conclusion
There is very strong evidence from around the world and from UK employers’ gender equal schemes that providing fathers and other parents with an extended period of sustainably paid statutory leave typically transforms take up. Extending paternity leave therefore has the potential to shift the dial on gendered allocation of parental responsibilities. Addressing the stark gendered disparity in our statutory leave periods should therefore be considered fundamental to fixing our broken system and a key priority of the Government’s forthcoming review. (Recommendation, Paragraph 65)
Government Response Summary
The government notes the committee's concerns about extended paid leave shifting gendered responsibilities and states this will be a key consideration, alongside fairness and equality, within the ongoing parental leave and pay review, including for self-employed parents.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
The government has noted the concerns the committee has raised about women receiving Maternity Allowance, including the concerns raised in your report on misogyny in music, on their ability to undertake freelance work. We have responded separately to those concerns in the government’s response to that report. The government recognises the recommendations in relation to self- employed parents. The parental leave and pay review will focus on ensuring that parental leave offers the best possible support to working families, including whether support available meets the needs of working families who do not currently qualify for existing leave, such as those who are self- employed. Fairness and equality will be, amongst others, a cross-cutting consideration of the review, including the consideration of building a fair system between parents of different employment statuses.