Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Caring Responsibilities and Work

Wednesday 7 February 2024 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Carer's Leave Regulations 2024 will allow carers to take a week of unpaid leave from the workplace with job protection starting on 6 April.
  • The Government has introduced legislation for flexible working and improved payments for carers.
  • One in three requests for flexible working were denied by employers, highlighting challenges for workers with caring responsibilities.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Barry Sheerman Lab
Women & Equalities Children & Families
Context

The question arises from the high childcare costs and lack of support for early years, carers, and talented women.

Question

What steps are the Government taking to help support women with caring responsibilities to continue working given that there is a bad deal for early years, carers and talented women?

Answer from Maria Caulfield

The Carer's Leave Regulations 2024 will come into force on 6 April, allowing carers to take a week of unpaid leave from the workplace knowing that their jobs are protected. The Government has also improved payments for carers and introduced legislation for flexible working.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not address specific steps or commitments beyond mentioning existing regulations.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q2 Barry Sheerman Lab
Women & Equalities Children & Families
Context

The question arises from concerns about the government's poor deal for early years, carers, and talented women with high childcare costs.

Question

It is an absolute scandal that in all these years of so-called popular Conservative Government we have seen such a bad deal for early years, carers and talented women. Legions of them want to use their talent at work but are stopped by the highest childcare costs in the world.

Answer from Maria Caulfield

God gave us two ears and a mouth for a reason, encouraging listening to hear about the track record of this Government. We have improved payments for carers, introduced flexible working from day one, legislated for parental leave including shared parental leave and paternity leave, and launched the kinship care strategy in December.

Not addressed: The answer diverts attention to a general track record without addressing specific childcare costs or commitments.

How: God Gave Us Two Ears And A Mouth For A Reason

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q3 Kirsten Oswald SNP
Employment Children & Families
Context

The question arises from the TUC's report that one in three requests for flexible working are denied by employers.

Question

One in three requests for flexible working were denied by employers. What steps are the UK Government taking to give real support to workers with caring responsibilities and ensure that flexible working is a day-one right by default?

Answer from Maria Caulfield

I am aware of the difficulties involved as I hold down a full-time job while being a carer. The Government has passed legislation allowing flexible working from day one and introduced 18 weeks of leave entitlement for parents, with Carer's Leave Regulations coming into force on 6 April.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not address the specific issue of denying requests or steps to ensure it is a day-one right by default.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)