New Mothers: Workplace

Eddie Hughes (Walsall North) (Con)
13. What steps she has taken to ensure that new mothers can participate in the workplace.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Kelly Tolhurst)
The Government are wholly committed to women’s participation in the workforce, including by supporting new mothers to return to, and thrive in, work. That is why we recently consulted on a broad range of proposals to help families to balance their work and home commitments. We have also announced our intention to extend redundancy protection to new mothers returning to work.

Eddie Hughes
I thank the Minister for that answer. What support are the Government giving to new mothers who, sadly, have experienced stillbirth?

Kelly Tolhurst
First, I pay tribute to my hon. Friend and Members across the House who participated in Baby Loss Awareness Week and the emotional debate in the House. The Government have committed to introducing parental bereavement leave and pay, which will apply to parents who lose a child under the age of 18, including parents with stillbirth. We plan to lay the regulations to implement the policy in January, ready to come into force on 6 April. That will support new mothers facing these tragic and difficult circumstances.

Gareth Thomas (Harrow West) (Lab/Co-op)
Discrimination against new mothers and pregnant women is still widespread in our country. When are the Government going to take it seriously?

Kelly Tolhurst
I point out that discrimination in the workplace is illegal; it is unlawful. I have just outlined that we have announced our intention to extend redundancy protection for those mothers who return to work.