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Paternity Leave and Pay
23 October 2024
Lead MP
Shaun Davies
Telford
Lab
Responding Minister
Justin Madders
Tags
Employment
Word Count: 10153
Other Contributors: 23
At a Glance
Shaun Davies raised concerns about paternity leave and pay in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The lead MP asks the Government to review parental leave rights further so that a conversation about it can be had. He also calls for longer paternity leave, better-paid leave, and non-transferrable leave to encourage take-up.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The UK has the worst paternity pay and leave in Europe; only about 20% of fathers are eligible for it, with a maximum of two weeks' paid leave at £184 per week. In 2023, out of 605,000 babies born, only 195,000 dads received statutory paternity pay, equating to less than one father for every three children. Evidence shows that early bonds between fathers and their children are critical for the child's development.
Alex McIntyre
Lab
Gloucester
After his paternity leave last year, he advocated for changes that would allow fathers to take longer leave when a mother needs recovery time after childbirth. He also highlighted the financial penalty many face and the need for support during crucial family moments.
Hitchin
Acknowledged the importance of paternity leave and pay in reducing gendered imbalances. He highlighted heartbreaking choices faced by families due to current inequity, including fathers having to squander savings or take unpaid leave after a C-section while supporting early parenthood.
Blair McDougall
Lab
East Renfrewshire
Mr McDougall discussed cultural and economic barriers to father involvement, noting a £1,000 gap between average pay and statutory paternity leave, which disproportionately affects lower-income families.
Connor Rand
Lab
Altrincham and Sale West
Asked if the Minister would give way.
Daniel Francis
Lab
Bexleyheath and Crayford
Personal experience shows the inadequacy of paternity leave: 3.5 days for an employer with a five-month tenure, including a critical period when his wife had a seizure post-birth. Despite the welcome changes in the Employment Rights Bill, there is a need to address financial barriers.
Freddie Van Mierlo
Lib Dem
Henley and Thame
The paternity system is classist, with white-collar workers getting much better provision from their employers compared to precarious industries. He highlighted the importance of having the father or partner there for support during a traumatic birth or difficult pregnancy, emphasizing that longer paternity pay leads to closing gender pay gaps and improving career prospects.
Gareth Bacon
Con
Orpington
The Conservative Member welcomed the improvements to paternity leave and pay introduced by the previous Government, highlighting reforms that provide more choice and flexibility for fathers and partners. He noted the removal of qualifying employment conditions for shared parental leave when a birth mother or adopting parent has died, paying tribute to the Labour MP who steered this through Parliament.
Gareth Snell
Lab Co-op
Stoke-on-Trent Central
He stated that even if a birth is straightforward, the two weeks of paternity leave and pay pass very quickly. He highlighted that complications during childbirth can exacerbate this issue, causing additional stress for parents who feel guilty about returning to work.
Graeme Downie
Lab
Dunfermline and Dollar
I thank my hon. Friend for giving way. I will be very brief. I am a former small business owner—does my hon. Friend agree that as part of that review, we should also be looking at and promoting to small businesses the benefits of adequate family leave and flexible working at the same time to help grow the economy?
Graham Evans
Lab
Weaver Vale
Mr Evans agreed with the concerns raised by Shaun Davies about the current state of paternity rights in the UK, noting his personal experience with a premature birth and limited paternity leave options.
Gregor Poynton
Lab
Livingston
Fathers receive only two weeks of paid paternity leave at £184 a week, which is insufficient for many families. The system lacks inclusivity, especially for those in lower-income brackets or the self-employed. A TUC study found that 35% of fathers with household incomes under £25,000 do not take shared parental leave due to financial constraints.
James MacCleary
Lib Dem
Lewes
Called for better paternity pay, increasing it to 90% of a father's salary as soon as possible. Emphasized the importance of development in early years and proposed introducing a dad's month and widening eligibility for paternity pay.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
He highlighted the limited paternity leave and pay in Northern Ireland, noting that it is significantly less than what other countries offer. He emphasized the importance of having more support for families during a vulnerable time after childbirth.
Jonathan Pearce
Lab
High Peak
As he prepares to become a father for the third time, he stressed that two weeks of paternity leave are insufficient when considering the health needs of his wife after childbirth and the practical challenges in rural areas.
Josh Simons
Lab
Makerfield
Emphasised the importance of a cultural shift where men are valued for their care and love, not just strength. Advocated for better paternity leave to support working parents financially and mentally.
Luke Taylor
Lib Dem
Sutton and Cheam
Noted that the omission of self-employed individuals from eligibility for paternity pay is a major issue that needs to be addressed.
Munira Wilson
Lib Dem
Twickenham
Ms Wilson highlighted the importance of paternity leave for cultural change and equality in parenting, noting that current statutory rates are insufficient. She supported increasing paternity pay to 90% of salary with a cap for higher earners and extending eligibility to self-employed parents. Additionally, she proposed a 'use it or lose it' month of paid parental leave reserved for fathers.
Olly Glover
Lib Dem
Didcot and Wantage
Mr Glover praised the campaign for equal parental leave and outlined the economic benefits in countries offering six weeks paternity leave, advocating for a Liberal Democrats plan of generous shared parental leave.
Peter Lamb
Lab
Crawley
Due to downsizing, he was forced to change jobs during his wife's pregnancy and lost eligibility for statutory leave. The reality reflects the majority of individuals who do not stay with employers long-term, leading to inefficiency in returning to work post-birth.
Sarah Russell
Lab
Congleton
Ms Russell highlighted her experience advising women facing maternity discrimination and emphasised the need for non-transferable paternity leave paid at a sufficient rate, noting 12% of employers are reluctant to hire women due to pregnancy risks. She intervened to agree with the idea that paternity leave can help counteract the perception that part-time work is less valuable and supports the concept of shared parental leave.
Sarah Smith
Lab
Hyndburn
Intervened to point out that the impact of mental health on mothers should be considered in discussions about paternity leave.
Stella Creasy
Lab Co-op
Walthamstow
Ms Creasy argued that to address paternity leave properly, we must ensure everyone faces the same discrimination in their career due to potential childbearing, citing 54,000 women annually losing jobs during pregnancy or maternity leave. She advocated for protected and paid leave (PaPa) for both mothers and fathers, arguing that entrenching current policies could worsen the motherhood penalty. She pointed out the need to address workplace inequalities that contribute to a gender pay gap.
Wolverhampton North East
The Employment Rights Bill will help 30,000 new fathers qualify for paternity leave and is vital as it offers greater flexibility and reflects a societal shift towards supporting parental leave.
Government Response
Justin Madders
Government Response
It is a pleasure to see you in the Chair this afternoon, Mr Pritchard. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Telford on securing today's debate, which has been very well attended. The Government recognise that parental leave and pay entitlements need improvement. On 6 April, changes were introduced allowing parents to take leave and pay in two non-consecutive weeks within the first year after the birth or adoption of their child. However, we want to go further by making paternity leave a day one right, removing the requirement for continuity of service conditions, and providing flexibility for employees to take advantage of different types of leave available. We will also make unpaid parental leave a day one right, enabling parents to give notice on the first day in a new job. Additionally, we are committed to reviewing the whole parental leave system to ensure it supports working families effectively.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.