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Statutory Maternity and Paternity Pay
27 October 2025
Lead MP
Jacob Collier
Burton and Uttoxeter
Lab
Responding Minister
Andrew Western
Tags
Employment
Word Count: 14938
Other Contributors: 33
At a Glance
Jacob Collier raised concerns about statutory maternity and paternity pay in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The Government have stated that statutory payments are designed to provide “a measure of security” rather than a full wage. The lead MP is calling for a review of parental leave and pay, which should include raising rates to at least the level of the national living wage, six weeks for dads on 100% pay, and addressing disparities such as those faced by parents of twins.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The petition before us has attracted a great deal of public support from families who want Parliament to look again at how we help parents in the first months of their child’s life. The current statutory maternity pay after six weeks equates to just £4.99 an hour, compared with the national living wage of £12.21—55% lower than the income that the law defines as the minimum required to live on.
Afzal Khan
Lab
Manchester Rusholme
A shocking 37% of children and young people in Greater Manchester live in poverty. Raising statutory maternity pay to a livable wage would help tackle the crisis of child poverty in the UK.
Alex McIntyre
Lab
Gloucester
Calls for an extension of statutory paternity leave to at least six weeks and reforms to shared parental leave, citing 40% of births in England being via caesarean section requiring significant recovery time. Asked Rebecca Smith about comments made by the Leader of the Opposition regarding maternity pay being 'excessive'. Discussed personal experience and concerns about financial stability for new parents.
Amanda Martin
Lab
Portsmouth North
Discussed stories from Portsmouth fathers returning to work too soon after childbirth due to financial constraints, emphasizing the need for fair parental leave policies.
Andrew Western
Con
Congleton
Responded positively to interventions, noted the importance of considering paternity rights as part of the review, and highlighted the significant financial implications of increasing statutory maternity and paternity pay rates. Acknowledged the debate as important for families, highlighted improvements such as free childcare from nine months to four years, tax-free childcare savings up to £2,000 a year and eligibility of all infant pupils in Government-funded schools for free school meals.
Ann Davies
PC
Caerfyrddin
Highlights the TUC report showing that half of families struggle financially due to statutory parental pay rates, urging the Government to increase these rates and address child poverty issues.
Tewkesbury
Called for a statutory right for men to coordinate their return to work with employers, citing the impact on mental health during childbirth.
Chris Bloore
Lab
Redditch
The Government should deliver a new deal for working people, including reforming parental leave, providing fair pay and a real choice for caring for children without financial strain.
Chris Hinchliff
Ind
North East Hertfordshire
The MP discussed the importance of early years in child development and highlighted the need for a decent home, financial security, and support for parents to nurture their children without being weighed down by economic pressures. Welcomed the Government's commitment to a consultation on Hugh’s law and urged for it to be included in the next King’s Speech.
Edinburgh West
This debate highlights the need for proper implementation and fairness in new policies. Large employers should be required to publish their data on parental leave policies similarly to gender pay reports, ensuring transparency and accountability.
Daniel Francis
Lab
Bexleyheath and Crayford
Reiterates the importance of better rights for parents, noting that one in three dads do not take their paternity leave due to financial constraints, citing a Maternity Action survey on new mothers resorting to credit cards or loans.
Darren Paffey
Lab
Southampton Itchen
Under the current system, far fewer dads take parental leave, which worsens the gender pay gap. Workers lose up to £65,000-worth of earnings in five years after becoming mothers. Better paid and more usable partner leave is beneficial for all families.
West Dunbartonshire
My constituents maintain that the current rates of maternity and paternity pay are woefully inadequate. They delayed having children until they were financially secure, and it is unlikely that they will consider having a second child.
Roz Savage
LD
South Cotswolds
Acknowledged that every family's situation is different, highlighting issues such as having twins or managing debt. Suggested the current system lacks flexibility to accommodate these circumstances.
Scott Arthur
Lab
Edinburgh South West
Presented a case study of Blanche, a self-employed mother who had to return to work prematurely because of financial pressures, highlighting the physical and psychological impact on new mothers.
Simon Opher
Lab
Stroud
Highlighted the inadequacy of parental leave in the UK compared to other countries like Spain and Denmark, emphasizing the impact on parents' mental health and child well-being.
Ian Lavery
Lab
Blyth and Ashington
Kinship carers, adoptive parents, and foster carers should be included in the review for financial stability during their leave periods. The current £4.99 maternity allowance is not enough to support families.
Jacob Collier
Lab
Croydon North
I agree with the concerns raised about statutory maternity pay and advocate for day one rights, individual entitlements to paid leave, higher pay rates, and stronger protection against discrimination. The Government's review should also look at international comparisons such as Spain’s 16 weeks of paternity leave on equal pay. Welcomed the Minister's willingness to listen but stressed the need for real action with clear milestones, highlighting no parent should face poverty when bringing up a newborn.
James Naish
Lab
Rushcliffe
The hon. Member discusses the macro argument of the country's birth rate being between 1.41 and 1.56, stressing that there is a pure economic argument for making sure our country grows its population from the grass roots.
Liam Conlon
Lab
Beckenham and Penge
Welcomed the Government’s commitment to introduce a right for workers who experience pregnancy loss before 24 weeks to take time away from work to grieve.
Lisa Smart
LD
Hazel Grove
The Government’s review should address the gap that exists for self-employed individuals seeking to grow their family by adoption, as they are currently not entitled to maternity allowance or pay.
Lola McEvoy
Lab
Darlington
Interrupted to seek an intervention but was not granted it. Pointed out that addressing unfair dismissal for those taking paternity leave would not cost the taxpayer or businesses anything, as protection is already in place for shared parental leave and other types of leave.
Stratford-on-Avon
Calls for statutory maternity and paternity pay periods that meet the basic cost of living, noting that financial strain on new parents is pushing families into hardship.
Mark Sewards
Lab
Leeds South West and Morley
Highlighted that statutory maternity pay is one of the lowest in Europe and urged immediate action on increasing pay rates for both parents.
Michelle Welsh
Lab
Sherwood Forest
The hon. Member discusses the importance of maternity and paternity pay for a child's development during the first 1,001 days, stressing that low parental pay forces parents to prioritise work over their child’s neurological and emotional development. Emphasized the significance of the first 1,001 days in a child's life and advocated for better maternity rights.
Esher and Walton
Agreed with her colleague on supporting Liberal Democrat policies to double statutory shared parental pay, emphasizing the importance of financial support for new parents.
Noah Law
Lab
St Austell and Newquay
Discussed the economic impacts of current maternity and paternity policies, noting that they fail to support families equitably and can lead to significant financial losses for new parents.
Peter Swallow
Lab
Bracknell
Called for better support for bereaved parents and introduced Hugh’s law to provide statutory paid leave for parents of critically ill children.
Rachael Maskell
Ind
York Central
The hon. Member highlights the specific issue of self-employed adopters not being able to access pay or allowances that parents can, and calls for statutory arrangements for adopters to ensure they receive equivalent and sufficient adoption pay. Highlighted the importance of discretionary payments by employers to supplement statutory pay. Asked the Minister to ensure that there is a matrix over the Government’s objective that measures inequality in family life and ensures that parents experiencing the greatest deprivation benefit the most from the policy.
Rachel Taylor
Lab
North Warwickshire and Bedworth
Many of my constituents have written to me about the issue, raising concerns such as mothers being unable to lift and carry their young child after physical recovery from childbirth.
Rebecca Smith
Con
South West Devon
Called for the government to consider proposals for statutory maternity and shared parental pay increases, emphasised the need to support families facing high costs due to medical expenses.
Sarah Dyke
LD
Glastonbury and Somerton
The current support for multiple birth families is inadequate. Mothers of twins receive the same statutory maternity pay as parents of one child, despite having to pay double for essential childcare equipment.
Sarah Olney
LD
Richmond Park
The MP welcomed the Government’s commitment to review parental leave and pay but raised concerns about the Employment Rights Bill and its potential impact on small businesses. She called for measures to support workers while also reducing business costs.
Sarah Russell
Lab
Congleton
Critiqued the low statutory paternity pay, highlighting that it leads to women's economic and mental health struggles during pregnancy and post-partum. Raised issues regarding maternity allowance and the £500 Sure Start grant, noting that self-employed individuals are not eligible for this grant despite being entitled to maternity allowance.
Government Response
Andrew Western
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Government Response
Acknowledged the complexity of parental leave systems and the need to consult stakeholders before implementing changes. Confirmed that a review is underway, involving evidence gathering and public consultation. The Minister acknowledged the need to carefully consider financial implications of increasing statutory parental pay rates and highlighted the importance of a fairer system. He also noted that issues specific to self-employed individuals in relation to maternity allowance and other grants would be considered as part of the review.
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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.