Source · Select Committees · Women and Equalities Committee
Recommendation 8
8
Deferred
Introduce a Paternity Allowance equivalent to Maternity Allowance for self-employed fathers
Recommendation
Lack of provision for self-employed parents, particularly fathers and other parents, is a key flaw in the system. Given the substantial economic contribution of self-employed fathers, it is grossly unfair to exclude them. Lack of provision causes financial hardship and associated family difficulties, notably where a self-employed father “does the right thing” in taking time away from earning to care for his partner after a caesarean section or medical complications after birth. The Government must aim to rectify this by: a) considering options for providing statutory paid leave for all self-employed and non-employee working fathers as part of its review of the parental leave system; including, b) introducing a Paternity Allowance 57 equivalent to Maternity Allowance, which provides self-employed mothers with up to 39 weekly payments at the statutory rate; and c) rectifying unfairness in the existing Maternity Allowance rules, including in relation to permitted paid self-employed work beyond 10 “keeping in touch” days while in receipt of the allowance, as identified in our recent follow up Report on misogyny in music, to ensure unfairness is not replicated in provision for self-employed fathers. (Recommendation, Paragraph 67)
Government response summary AI-generated
The government thanks the committee for highlighting the "A Better Start" campaign and mentions expanding the Family Hubs programme, but generally defers the specific recommendations for statutory paid leave and a Paternity Allowance for self-employed fathers, and rectifying Maternity Allowance rules, to its ongoing parental leave and pay review and call for evidence.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government · verbatim extract
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.
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