Thank you to everyone who got in contact with me about maternity leave and pay.
In my view, the current parental leave system is outdated, and I welcome the launch of parental leave and pay review. All parental pay entitlements will be considered as part of the review process, which will improve living standards for families and prioritise the health of mothers as its first objective. The review will run for 18 months, and I know the Government is open to hearing evidence from families with twins or multiple births, as well as the organisations that represent them.
In answer to Parliamentary Questions, the Department for Work and Pensions has explained that Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) and Maternity Allowance (MA) are designed to provide financial security to help working mothers take time off in the later stages of pregnancy and after childbirth. Maternity pay is not intended to replace a woman’s earnings completely, nor is it intended to help with the cost of having a baby. As such, these payments are made per pregnancy, not per child.
I recognise that many people would like to see a different approach, and I will bear in mind the points raised by constituents. Unfortunately, due to the economic situation inherited from the previous Government, tough choices are unavoidable. All current spending commitments must be considered in this context. While there are currently no plans to change the way SMP and MA are calculated, other forms of support are available.
I note that new mothers can qualify for additional support, for example via Universal Credit and Child Benefit. The Sure Start Maternity Grant, a lump sum payment of £500 to help with the costs of a new baby, may also be available. In the event of a multiple birth, parents may be entitled to more than one grant.
On top of this, the rates of Statutory Maternity Pay and Maternity Allowance are reviewed annually, and I recently backed an inflation-linked increase to them from April 2025. This comes on top of the 6.7% increase for the financial year 2024/25.
I recently visited The Working Mum’s Club, a co-working and childcare space newly opened in Deptford, to chat with its CEO Jennifer Sutcliffe about the practical and financial challenges for women getting back into work after having children. Please be assured that I will continue to follow any developments in this area and continue to visit similar organisations with interest.
In September, the Government ran a Call for Evidence on parental leave which has now closed. You can read about it by clicking here.
I would encourage constituents to respond to the consultation, ‘Make Work Pay: enhanced dismissal protections for pregnant women and new mothers.’ This consultation closes at 11:59pm on 15 January 2026. You can find out more information and respond by clicking here.
Thank you once again to everyone who got in touch about this important issue.