Terms and Conditions of Employment

11 Feb

Debated Motion

The debated motion centered on the approval of the draft Neonatal Care Leave and Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 2025 and the draft Statutory Neonatal Care Pay (General) Regulations 2025. These regulations mark a significant legislative step following the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023, which introduced new rights for employed parents whose newborns require prolonged neonatal care. Key features include granting a day-one right for up to 12 weeks of additional parental leave on top of existing entitlements, aiming to alleviate the financial and emotional burden on affected families.

34,000

Estimated annual uptake of paid neonatal care leave by parents.

£22.5 million

Estimated net annual recurring cost to businesses due to the new regulations.

£4.7 million

One-off familiarization cost to businesses for implementing these changes.

Outcome

The House of Commons unanimously approved the regulations. The consensus across parties underscored the motion's essential role in supporting families during critical times and recognized the broader socio-economic benefits.

Key Contributions

Justin Madders

Introduced regulations pertaining to neonatal care leave and pay, highlighting the gaps they fill regarding current parental rights.

Caroline NokesMadam Deputy Speaker

Facilitated the debate session and emphasized parliamentary procedures.

Chris Vince

Labour

Argued the benefits for employers showing family support increase long-term loyalty and productivity.

Greg Smith

Conservative

Critiqued the delay in implementing the manifesto promise on neonatal care leave.

Jen Craft

Labour

Shared a personal constituency case to illustrate the necessity of the regulations.

Steve Darling

Liberal Democrats

Expressed full support, aligning with party manifesto commitments, and emphasized the benefits of parental bonding that the regulations facilitate.

Liz Jarvis

Liberal Democrats

Praised campaigning charities and stressed the importance of continued support for neonatal families beyond initial legislative measures.

Original Transcript

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business and Trade

Justin Madders

15:23

I beg to move, That the draft Neonatal Care Leave and Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 2025, which were laid before this House on 20 January, be approved.

Madam Deputy Speaker

Caroline Nokes

15:23

With this it will be convenient to discuss the following motion: That the draft Statutory Neonatal Care Pay (General) Regulations 2025, which were laid before this House on 20 January, be approved.

Chris Vince

Harlow

Lab/Co-op

15:27

Does the Minister agree that these changes will not only support parents who are going through a really difficult time but will also be good for employers?

By showing that they are supporting their employees to return to work with these additional rights, this will be good for employers in the long term, too.

Chris Vince

15:38

The shadow Minister talks about targets, but was it not his own Government that got rid of the targets for A&E waiting times, and then failed to meet their lowered targets?

Greg Smith

It is a brave Labour politician who talks about health targets when, for so long, the NHS in Wales was performing, and continues to perform, worse than in England when it was run by the Conservatives.

To conclude, we will support these statutory instruments because they will support the 40,000 families who faced the incredibly difficult and worrisome experience of having a child in neonatal care.

The instruments will build on our achievements that made the UK one of the best places in the world to be the parents of a newborn, and I hope the Government can continue to make progress.

I end by again thanking the former Member for Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East and Baroness Wyld. I also thank Bliss and the Smallest Things for their consistent work that has kept neonatal care pay and leave at the top of all of our agendas.

Madam Deputy Speaker

Caroline Nokes

Order. Before I call the Liberal Democrat spokesman, I remind the House that it is courteous for Members who wish to speak to be present for all the opening speeches.

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