Parents whose children are tragically stillborn are now to be included in my Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Bill following an amendment today which means that they too would be able to receive two weeks’ paid leave to grieve at home. This could mean a further 6,000 families a year would benefit.
What really struck me as my Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Bill completed the second sitting of its Committee stage today was how much Parliament can achieve if we put party politics to one side. This Bill encouraged cross party consensus, which means we can and we shall provide more support for grieving parents.
The Bill, once it is given Royal Assent, will, for the first time, create statutory protection by giving employed parents the entitlement to two weeks' paid leave if they lose a child under the age of 18. Although the Bill provides a statutory minimum, most employers will go much further and each member of the committee encouraged them to do so.
There were moments when MPs were close to tears listening to the contributions of some of the other committee members. The personal stories experienced by my own colleagues were really heart-rending. I am especially grateful to Victoria Prentis MP, Will Quince MP, Antoinette Sandbach MP, Carolyn Harris MP, Patricia Gibson MP & Gavin Newlands MP.
I am also grateful to the Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Corporate Responsibility, Andrew Griffiths MP, who is relatively new to his role. He debated each amendment delicately and with the attention that they each deserved.
I am hopeful that we will complete the remaining stages of the Bill in May this year.