British Airways staff have been renowned for decades for their commitment to first-class customer service, and long before lockdown and furlough, BA was in receipt of public funding, not least through the air fares of generations of Members of Parliament, peers, and Ministers from Scotland and elsewhere in the UK travelling to this place. So to say that my constituents and I are disappointed at BA’s proposals for a fire and rehire policy towards its staff is a significant understatement. BA must listen and this Government must act.

The petition states:

The petition of residents of Glasgow North,

Declares that job losses at British Airways, Rolls-Royce and across the aviation and aerospace industry will be a devastating blow to employees of these firms and will cause major economic damage to the whole of the UK; supports the early intervention by the Scottish Government in removing the business rates liability for one year and urges the UK Government to follow suit.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to secure a sustainable future for the aviation industry, to ensure that urgent discussions take place between relevant ministers and these firms to protect the maximum number of jobs, and to ensure that workers play a full role in the decisions being taken about this industry.

And the petitioners remain, etc.

[P002590]

Covid-19 has had a significant impact on the lives of many in our country, not least mothers on maternity leave. They have been unable to avail themselves of normal health visitor support or support from their wider family. Their babies have often been left in situations of social isolation and their mothers have not benefited from wider family support. Nor have babies been able to bond with loved ones, relatives and the wider community. Members will know that a petition was signed by 233,000 people within this country, and hundreds of people have been in contact with me since I registered my support for this campaign. So it is an enormous privilege, on behalf of mothers and many throughout this country who understand the impact of coronavirus on maternity leave, that I present this petition.

The petition states:

The petition of residents of the constituency of Belfast East,

Declares that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on and has led to increased cases of social isolation, and that new mothers on maternity leave have been particularly affected.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to extend paid maternity leave by three months.

[P002591]