Source · Select Committees · Women and Equalities Committee
Recommendation 19
19
Deferred
Address inequality for single parent families by allowing reallocation of co-parent leave entitlements.
Recommendation
In reforming the parental leave system, the Government must address inequality for single parent families. Unlike in many developed countries, single parents do not receive any portion of the paid leave that would be available to the household if they had a co-parent. Extending paternity leave entitlements risks exacerbating this inequality. We recommend the Government’s review consider options for single parents to reallocate some or all of the entitlements of co-parents to nominated family friends or relatives who can share caring responsibilities. It should draw on experiences in overseas systems, including Norway and Sweden. (Recommendation, Paragraph 106)
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the challenges faced by single-parent families and states that the parental leave and pay review will consider options for them, including international systems, to ensure the system supports all working families.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
We thank the committee for highlighting that there are groups of parents who face challenges that are not currently reflected in, or supported by, the parental leave system. The parental leave and pay review will consider working families in these situations, including considering the international parental leave systems highlighted by the committee, to ensure the parental leave system best supports all types of working families. Furthermore, as highlighted previously, fairness and equality will be a cross-cutting consideration of the parental leave and pay review, including fairness between different types of parents.