'Every parent should have the chance to spend time with their children' - Government launches review of parental leave days after call by Cannock Chase MP
The Government is to carry out a review of parental leave and pay - days after a West Midland MP called for six weeks' paternity leave for all new fathers.
Ministers say the review will look at all kinds of parental leave to support today’s families and boost economic growth.
The review will look at the whole system – from maternity and paternity leave to shared parental leave – to see how it can work better for parents and employers.
A Government spokesman said the present system was complicated and didn’t always give families the support they needed. One in three new fathers didn't take paternity leave because they couldn’t afford to, and take-up of shared parental leave was also low.
The Government said better parental leave could help close the gender pay gap and boost the economy by billions of pounds.
The review will gather views from parents, employers and experts across the country which will be used to draw up a plan for possible reforms.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said: “Those early years are the most special time for families, but too many struggle to balance their work and home lives.
“Supporting working parents isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s vital for our economy. This ambitious review will leave no stone unturned as we deliver for working families."
Last month Cannock Chase MP Josh Newbury called for a change in the law requiring all employers to offer six week's paternity pay for new fathers.
He said the UK offered the shortest statutory paternity leave in Europe.
"As a father, I know how important those early weeks are in bonding with a newborn and supporting a partner," he said.
"Right now, too many dads are left choosing between time with their child or financial stability, with many being unable afford to take paternity leave at all.
"By extending paternity leave and pay to six weeks, we can ensure fathers take time off without losing income, while also helping mothers return to work sooner and narrowing the gender pay gap. It’s a win for families and for the economy."
Mr Newbury said studies quoted by The Dad Shift campaign estimate that a six-week paternity leave policy could boost the economy by £23 billion, increasing GDP by one per cent.
"The shift towards more equal rights for parents would enable mothers to return to work sooner or increase their hours, strengthening the workforce and reducing inequalities," he said.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the arrival of a child, whether through birth or adoption, was a life-changing moment.
"Campaigners have long called for change, and this Government has listened. This review is our chance to reset the system and build something that works for modern families and businesses."
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall added: “Every parent should have the chance to spend time with their children during those precious early years.
"By listening to parents and employers across the country, we’ll build a system that works for today’s working families.”
