Source · Select Committees · Business and Trade Committee
Recommendation 17
17
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Paragraph: 109
Government asked to consult on incentives for parents and workplace protections to support careers.
Conclusion
We note that many parents are disincentivised at work from having children, at a time when the country needs more young people to work and pay taxes to cover the costs of our ageing population. We therefore ask the Government to consult on what more can be done to create the conditions to incentivise parents to have children whilst offering suitable protections at work so that time out of work does not impact their career and pay opportunities in the future.
Government response summary AI-generated
The government's response outlines employer duties under health and safety legislation, providing guidance for managing shift workers, which is unrelated to the recommendation to consult on incentivizing parents to have children and protecting their careers.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
109
Government Response
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HM Government · verbatim extract
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In the Government’s Spring Budget, the Chancellor announced transformative reforms to childcare for parents, children, the economy, and women. By 2027–28, this Government will expect to be spending in excess of £8bn every year on free hours and early education, helping working families with their childcare costs. This represents the single biggest investment in childcare in England ever. Childcare is a vital enabler for parents to work. And measures announced aim to support parents to return and stay in work. childcare offer for working parents. Government will be expanding the free childcare offer so that eligible working parents in England will be able to access 30 hours of free childcare per week for 38 weeks per year from when their child is 9 months old to when they start school. Post-pandemic economic growth: UK labour markets: Government Response 13 From April 2024, working parents of two-year-olds can access 15 hours of free childcare per week (38 weeks a year), from September 2024 this will be extended to parents of nine month to three-year-olds, and from September 2025 working parents of nine month to three-year-olds will be able to access 30 free hours per week (38 weeks a year). The Government is committed to building an economy that works for everyone, including parents. On Wednesday 24 May, three new Government backed Private Members’ Bills received royal assent. As a result, parents and carers will benefit from the following new protections once in force: • Up to 12 weeks of paid neonatal care leave for employed parents whose children are admitted to neonatal care, so that they can spend more time with their baby at what is a hugely stressful time. This is in addition to other leave and pay entitlements such as maternity and paternity. • Redundancy protection for pregnant women and new parents with the extension of existing redundancy protections to cover pregnancy and a period of time after parents return to work • Supporting unpaid carers through a new entitlement to a week of flexible unpaid leave a year, for employees who are caring for a dependant with a long- term care need. This will enable carers to better balance their caring and work responsibilities, supporting them to remain in employment. These Government backed Acts will boost support to vulnerable workers, and to parents.
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