Commons Sense

House of Commons · Written Ministerial Statement

Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay

04 February 2020 · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Proposed by Andrea Leadsom Con South Northamptonshire

Employment

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

View on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Key points

  • The Government is implementing statutory Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay for employed parents in Great Britain.
  • Parents are entitled to a minimum of 2 weeks' leave if their child under 18 dies or they suffer a stillbirth from 24 weeks of pregnancy.
  • Parents who have worked for at least 6 months are also entitled to Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay.

Issue summary

The Government is implementing statutory Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay for employed parents in Great Britain whose child dies or suffers a stillbirth.

Action requested

Subject to Parliamentary approval, the Parental Bereavement Leave Regulations will give all employed parents a minimum of 2 weeks’ leave when their child under 18 dies or they suffer a stillbirth from 24 weeks of pregnancy. Parents who have worked for at least 6 months are also entitled to Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay.

Key facts

  • The Parental Bereavement Leave Regulations were laid in Parliament on 23rd January 2020.
  • There are around 7,500 child deaths a year in Great Britain, including approximately 3,000 stillbirths.
  • The new entitlement will help support over 10,000 GB parents annually.
  • Parental Bereavement Leave is a “Day 1” right for all employed parents regardless of their length of service.
  • Employed parents can take the leave as either a single block of 2 weeks or two separate blocks of one week each.
  • The entitlement applies to parents who lose a child on or after 6 April 2020.
▸ Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy