Petition Extend maternity leave by 3 months with pay in light of COVID-19

The Petitions Committee (the group of MPs who oversee the petitions system) are investigating the issues that this petition raises.

They’d like to hear more about why you signed this petition and your views and experiences of this issue.

You can share your views and experiences in this short survey: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/00QLUB/

They’d like to hear from you ideally by Monday 4 May 2020. Your answers will help them to understand the issues people are facing and what questions MPs need to ask the Government. They might publish some or all of your responses, or read them out when they’re asking questions in a public Committee meeting or in the House of Commons. So please don’t share any personal information that you don’t want to be public.

The Committee will be questioning representatives of parents, baby groups, health visitors and child development experts in the next week or so about this issue. We'll email you again to let you know more information and how you can watch the session online shortly. 

What is the Petitions Committee?

The Petitions Committee is a cross-party group of MPs that considers e-petitions submitted on Parliament’s petitions website and public (paper) petitions presented to the House of Commons. It is independent of the Government.

You can get updates on their work by following the Committee on Twitter
@HoCpetitions or on their
website: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/

This is a ‘select committee’. Find out how Select Committees work:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_2RDuDs44c

Find out more about how petitions work:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGEOraE08Jk&feature=youtu.be

On Thursday 7 May, the Petitions Committee is holding two formal oral evidence sessions on coronavirus. The first of these will look at calls for the extension of paid maternity leave in light of the outbreak, prompted by a petition you signed. These sessions form part of the Committee’s ongoing inquiry into COVID-19.

Watch the session live from 2.30pm on Thursday: https://youtu.be/TOFPLeE7dqQ

In advance of the sessions, the Petitions Committee asked those who has signed the petitions to share their experiences, with a record number of replies. The Committee is very grateful to all those who shared their views.

The session on maternity leave will run from 14:30-15:30 and will focus on a petition to extend maternity leave by three months with pay in light of COVID-19, which has received over 200,000 signatures.

Read more about these sessions: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/news/146332/petitions-committee-investigate-the-impact-of-coronavirus-on-students-and-on-maternity-leave/

The evidence sessions, which will be led by Petitions Committee Chair Catherine McKinnell MP, will explore the overarching issues raised by these petitions and will help the Committee better understand these issues and inform their constructive scrutiny of the Government on behalf of petitioners.

The evidence session will start be broadcast live on Thursday 7 May from 14:30 here https://youtu.be/TOFPLeE7dqQ

This can be a particularly stressful time for new and expectant parents. If you are struggling, or if you just need more information, some of the links below may be useful:

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, of which The Duchess is Patron, have worked with the Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health to develop national clinical guidance on coronavirus and pregnancy for healthcare professionals, in addition to advice and information for pregnant women and their families. The information can be found here: https://www.rcog.org.uk/coronavirus-pregnancy

The Institute of Health Visiting (iHV) were also represented on the call and alongside GPs are the only health professionals who routinely see all families from pregnancy to when the youngest child goes to school. iHV have an area on their website which includes a section on Parenting through COVID-19. It can be found here: https://ihv.org.uk/families/parenting- through-coronavirus-covid-19

A further list of support services for new and expectant mothers and their families can be found here: https://www.bestbeginnings.org.uk/charities-uk-support

What is the Petitions Committee?

The Petitions Committee is a cross-party group of MPs that considers e-petitions submitted on Parliament’s petitions website and public (paper) petitions presented to the House of Commons. It is independent of the Government.

You can get updates on their work by following the Committee on Twitter
@HoCpetitions or on their
website: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/

This is a ‘select committee’. Find out how Select Committees work:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_2RDuDs44c

Find out more about how petitions work:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGEOraE08Jk&feature=youtu.be

We emailed people who had signed this petition by 30 April to ask you to share your experiences of maternity leave during lockdown.

Thank you to everyone who took part in this survey - we received over 24,000 responses altogether, as well as around 25,000 comments on a House of Commons Facebook post.

Your responses informed the questions the Petitions Committee then put to petitioners and experts in a formal evidence session last Thursday 7 May.

Watch Catherine McKinnell MP, Chair of the Committee, express her thanks to everyone who completed the survey: https://youtu.be/B4gEdBXcgz0

The session was really useful in helping the Committee better understand the concerns and challenges of people on leave during this time, and to help inform the next steps in the Committee's ongoing inquiry into the Government's response to coronavirus.

Watch the full session on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOFPLeE7dqQ

Find out more about the session, read the public engagement summaries and transcript here: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/news/146332/petitions-committee-investigate-the-impact-of-coronavirus-on-students-and-on-maternity-leave/

We’ll email you again to let you know when we receive the written response to this petition from the Government, and about any more action the Committee takes.

This can be a particularly stressful time for new and expectant parents. If you are struggling, or if you just need more information, some of the links below may be useful:

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, of which The Duchess is Patron, have worked with the Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health to develop national clinical guidance on coronavirus and pregnancy for healthcare professionals, in addition to advice and information for pregnant women and their families. The information can be found here: https://www.rcog.org.uk/coronavirus-pregnancy

The Institute of Health Visiting (iHV) were also represented on the call and alongside GPs are the only health professionals who routinely see all families from pregnancy to when the youngest child goes to school. iHV have an area on their website which includes a section on Parenting through COVID-19. It can be found here: https://ihv.org.uk/families/parenting-through-coronavirus-covid-19

A further list of support services for new and expectant mothers and their families can be found here: https://www.bestbeginnings.org.uk/charities-uk-support

Who are we?
We are the House of Commons Petitions Committee. We are a cross-party group of MPs that looks at e-petitions submitted on petition.parliament.uk. We are independent from Government. You can find out more about us and our work on our website: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/

You can follow the Petitions Committee on Twitter: @HoCpetitions.

Further information
You can read impartial House of Commons Library information about coronavirus here: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/coronavirus/

You can find out more about coronavirus and how you can protect yourself and others here:

www.gov.uk/coronavirus

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

The Government has also created an online service to help you out what you can do if you’re struggling because of coronavirus: https://www.gov.uk/find-coronavirus-support

You can read NHS tips to help if you are worried about coronavirus here: https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/coronavirus-covid-19-anxiety-tips

The Petitions Committee (the group of MPs who oversee the petitions system) are continuing to investigate the impact of the outbreak on new parents. The Government has now given a written response to the petition, but the Committee's inquiry doesn't end there.

The Committee previously asked about people's experiences of maternity leave during the pandemic, and heard about the many challenges facing new parents, including concerns about mental health, child development, and family bonding.

In our last survey, many of you told us that finding suitable childcare and preparing to return to work is a big concern, so we'd like to ask you more about that ahead of the next session.

You can share your views and experiences via this short survey: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/CHRADM/

They’d like to hear from you ideally by Monday 18 May 2020. Your answers will help them to understand the issues people are facing and the options currently available, and what questions MPs need to ask the Government. They might publish some or all of your responses, or read them out when they’re asking questions in a public Committee meeting or in the House of Commons. So please don’t share any personal information that you don’t want to be public.

The Committee will be questioning a number of witnesses in the coming weeks, including representatives of childcare providers. We'll email you again to let you know more information and how you can watch the sessions. 

What is the Petitions Committee?

The Petitions Committee is a cross-party group of MPs that considers e-petitions submitted on Parliament’s petitions website and public (paper) petitions presented to the House of Commons.
It's a cross-party committee and is independent of the Government.

You can get updates on their work by following the Committee on Twitter
@HoCpetitions or on their
website: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/

This is a ‘select committee’. Find out how Select Committees work:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_2RDuDs44c

Find out more about how petitions work:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGEOraE08Jk&feature=youtu.be

The Petitions Committee (the group of MPs who oversee the petitions system) have scheduled a virtual evidence session on Thursday 21 May at 9.30am on the urgent crisis of maternal mental health in lockdown and the impact of the virus on access to childcare. It will also look at the impact on adoption leave.

Watch the session live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqMKtR-pt0A

Ahead of the session, the Committee asked petitioners to share their experiences on childcare and returning to work. Thank you to all of those who completed the surveys. Your feedback will help inform the Committee's ongoing work on this subject.

On Thursday the Committee will hear from:

• Alain Gregoire, Chair, Maternal Mental Health Alliance

• Dr Trudi Seneviratne OBE, Chair of the Royal College of Psychiatrists Faculty of Perinatal Psychiatry

• Josie Anderson, Campaigns and Policy Manager, Bliss

• Sue Armstrong Brown, Chief Executive, Adoption UK

• Neil Leitch, Chief Executive, Early Years Alliance

The Committee has also received written evidence on this issue from organisations and individuals. You can read them here: https://committees.parliament.uk/work/192/the-governments-response-to-coronavirus/publications/written-evidence/

What is the Petitions Committee?

The Petitions Committee is a cross-party group of MPs that considers e-petitions submitted on Parliament’s petitions website and public (paper) petitions presented to the House of Commons. It is independent of the Government.

You can get updates on their work by following the Committee on Twitter

@HoCpetitions or on their website: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/

This is a ‘select committee’. Find out how Select Committees work:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_2RDuDs44c

Find out more about how petitions work:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGEOraE08Jk&feature=youtu.be

This week the Petitions Committee heard about the impact of coronavirus on maternal mental health, the experiences of parents with babies in neonatal care, the impact on adopted children and adoption leave, and accessing childcare during the pandemic.

You can catch watch the session or read a transcript of the meeting here:

Watch the session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqMKtR-pt0A
Read the transcript: https://committees.parliament.uk/oralevidence/408/default/

Ahead of the session, the Committee asked petitioners to share their experiences on childcare and returning to work. Thank you again to all of those who took part.

Read a summary of what petitioners told us about childcare and returning to work during coronavirus: https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/5350/default/

Read a summary of what petitioners told us about the impact of coronavirus on maternity leave: https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/4258/default/

The Committee has also received written evidence on this issue from organisations and individuals. You can read them here: https://committees.parliament.uk/work/192/the-governments-response-to-coronavirus/publications/written-evidence/

The Petitions Committee are continuing to investigate the impact of the outbreak on new parents. We'll email you again to let you know about what will happen next. 

What is the Petitions Committee?

The Petitions Committee is a cross-party group of MPs that considers e-petitions submitted on Parliament’s petitions website and public (paper) petitions presented to the House of Commons. The Committee can schedule debates, hold in-depth inquiries, and press the Government for action on petitions. It is independent of the Government.

You can get updates on their work by following the Committee on Twitter
@HoCpetitions or on their website: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/

This is a ‘select committee’. Find out how Select Committees work:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_2RDuDs44c

Find out more about how petitions work:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGEOraE08Jk&feature=youtu.be

The Petitions Committee will be questioning the Government on the impact of coronavirus on those on parental leave in an upcoming online evidence session. More details will be announced shortly.

This session continues the Committee’s ongoing inquiry into the Government’s response to Coronavirus. The Committee’s questions to the Government have been informed by unprecedented levels of engagement from petitioners and other members of the public on this issue, particularly the impacts on maternal mental health, childcare and maternity leave. Thousands of petitioners have completed our surveys which have helped the Committee to understand the issues petitioners are facing, and it is very grateful for everyone’s contributions.

One of our surveys, which received over 12,000 responses, found that 78% of respondents have been unable to find and secure suitable childcare to allow them to return to work. 81% told us they were considering delaying their return to work as a result, with 80% of these being offered no options at all to extend their leave by their employer. Many of you reported using your annual leave allowance to delay your return, but some noted this would prevent them taking any further holiday once lockdown conditions had been lifted.

You can read a summary of what petitioners told us about their experiences here: https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/5350/default/.

A separate survey found that less than 3% of nurseries felt they would be able to reopen with the same capacity as before, with nearly 7% believing they would not be able to reopen at all in light of the current coronavirus crisis. In the survey, which was sent to childcare providers and employees who had signed relevant petitions, over 70% of providers said they either disagreed or strongly disagreed with the UK Government’s plans to reopen from 1 June.

This information helped the Committee when questioning experts on the impact of lockdown on maternal mental health, access to childcare, and maternity pay on 21 May. You can watch this session and read the transcript here: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/news/146495/petitions-committee-questioned-experts-on-maternal-mental-health-adoption-and-childcare/

These recent surveys were used to dig deeper into issues first raised in the Committee’s evidence session on the extension of maternity leave on 7 May. Ahead of that session, the Committee had received over 27,000 responses to a survey of petitioners, and over 25,000 responses to a Facebook post- a record for the House of Commons Facebook page. You can find more information about the first session here: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/news/146332/petitions-committee-investigate-the-impact-of-coronavirus-on-students-and-on-maternity-leave/

Chair of the Petitions Committee, Catherine McKinnell MP said:

“The Petitions Committee has seen unprecedented levels of engagement on maternal mental health, childcare and maternity leave with tens of thousands of people sharing their views and concerns. The Coronavirus is having a huge impact on families in many different ways and hearing personal stories and feedback is informing our inquiry and allowing us to better understand why people are signing these petitions.

“The evidence we collect drives the direction of our inquiries and ensures that we are challenging the Government on these issues effectively. We will be holding our next evidence session on this topic later this month, where we will question Government Ministers and hold them to account on this very issue.

“The Petitions Committee is determined to continue to investigate the impact COVID-19 is having on all communities. As Members of Parliament, we will continue to collect evidence, press for answers, and scrutinise the Government’s response as our country continues to fight this pandemic.”

What is the Petitions Committee?
The Petitions Committee is a cross-party group of MPs that considers e-petitions submitted on Parliament’s petitions website and public (paper) petitions presented to the House of Commons.
It's a cross-party committee and is independent of the Government.

You can get updates on their work by following the Committee on Twitter
@HoCpetitions or on their website: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/

This is a ‘select committee’. Find out how Select Committees work:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_2RDuDs44c

Find out more about how petitions work:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGEOraE08Jk&feature=youtu.be

The Petitions Committee will hold a virtual evidence session on Thursday 11 June at 14:30 to question Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Labour Markets, Paul Scully MP.

Watch the session live here: https://parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/5859f062-7772-40c3-83c5-055ae87df55d

This session will see the Petitions Committee question the Minister on crucial issues regarding maternity leave and pay raised by petitioners and experts as the UK enters its 12th week since lockdown began. This is the latest in a series of sessions prompted by a petition calling on the Government to extend maternity leave by 3 months with pay in light of COVID-19, which has received over 224,000 signatures to date.

Read the petition: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/306691.

Chair of the Petitions Committee, Catherine McKinnell MP, will lead the session, where Members of Parliament will put questions to the Minister on overarching issues raised by petitioners and experts since the start of the pandemic. This evidence will inform the Committee’s report on this issue, which will recommend actions the Government should take to address petitioners’ concerns.

Find out more: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/news/146749/petitions-committee-to-question-the-government-on-maternity-leave-and-pay-after-unprecedented-public-engagement/

Tomorrow, Thursday 11 June at 2.30pm, the Petitions Committee will question Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Labour Markets, Paul Scully MP.

Watch the session live:
YouTube: https://youtu.be/ljZyh73pKjE
Parliamentlive.TV: https://parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/5859f062-7772-40c3-83c5-055ae87df55d

Read the petition: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/306691

Find out more: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/news/146749/petitions-committee-to-question-the-government-on-maternity-leave-and-pay-after-unprecedented-public-engagement/

Last week, the Petitions Committee held its final oral evidence session, questioning Business Minister Paul Scully MP, on the impact of coronavirus on those on parental leave and the Government’s response to the petition.

You can watch the session here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljZyh73pKjE&feature=youtu.be
Find out more here: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/news/146749/petitions-committee-has-questioned-the-government-on-maternity-leave-and-pay-after-unprecedented-public-engagement/

The session came just two days after the Government’s decision to extend the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) cut-off date for those returning from leave after 10 June, but as thousands of you have shared with the Committee through surveys or online posts there are still many challenges facing new parents, and many who have no options to extend their leave.

Read more about eligibility for the CJRS: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-which-employees-you-can-put-on-furlough-to-use-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme

Next steps
The Committee will now produce a report, bringing together everything you have shared with us, the evidence of everyone who has appeared in virtual sessions, and the charities and support groups who have given written submissions.
The Committee will report its findings and make recommendations to the Government, who will then need to respond and decide whether and how to act on them.

The Committee understands the urgency of this issue for all of the parents who have signed this petition and engaged with the inquiry, and is working hard to publish this as soon as possible. You will receive another update as soon as the release date is confirmed.

In the meantime, you can contact your local MP to encourage them to put pressure on the Government on your behalf. Find their contact details here: https://members.parliament.uk/FindYourMP

Once again, the Committee would like to thank everyone who has shared their experiences. This information has been vital in informing the work of the Committee so far, and will directly inform our recommendations to the Government.

We will be publishing our report on the Impact of Covid-19 on maternity and paternal leave this Monday 6 July. This report is a result of our inquiry prompted by petitions on this issue, including the one you signed.

The report will set out the evidence we have heard from petitioners, experts, and Government Ministers, and will make recommendations on the actions we feel the Government needs to take to address the impact of Covid-19 on new and adoptive parents and their children, and the childcare sector.

We will update you again on Monday with a direct link to the report.

We have published our report on the Impact of Covid-19 on maternity and paternal leave. This report is a result of our inquiry into this petition.

The report sets out the evidence we have heard from petitioners, experts, and Government Ministers, and recommends a number of actions we feel the Government needs to take to address the impact of Covid-19 on new and adoptive parents and their children, and the childcare sector.

In the report we back the request of this petition and call for the Government to consider extending parental leave and pay for the duration of the Covid-19 crisis. Other recommendations include calls for the Government to:

• publish clear new guidance for employees and employers on supporting pregnant employees and those returning from parental leave that explains clearly their options and responsibilities
• consider extending the period in which pregnant women and new parents may bring claims before the employment tribunal to 6 months from dismissal in light of current challenges posed by Covid-19
• extend maternity dentist provision for new and expectant mothers affected by the pandemic for at least six months
• review the provision of health visitor services in light of Covid-19 and consider funding increased numbers of health visitors and other allied professionals, to ensure that vulnerable families are identified and given the support they need

Read a summary of the report and our recommendations (5 min read, available from 8am): https://houseofcommons.shorthandstories.com/how-has-maternity-and-parental-leave-been-impacted-by-coronavirus-/index.html

Read the full report: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5801/cmselect/cmpetitions/526/52602.htm

Chair of the Petitions Committee, Catherine McKinnell MP has criticised the Government for failing to meet the Committee’s request to respond urgently to its report on the impact of Covid-19 on maternity and parental leave, which was published earlier this month.

In a letter published on 29 July from Paul Scully MP, Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Labour Markets, the Government stated that a response to the Report from his department would not be possible before the House rose for Summer Recess on 22 July due to the need for careful consideration of recommendations and for discussions with counterparts in other relevant departments.

You can read the letter here: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/2186/documents/20153/default/

Read the Chair’s full comment here: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/news/147629/petitions-committee-chair-disappointed-in-governments-failure-to-respond-urgently-to-report-on-the-impact-of-covid19-on-maternity-and-parental-leave/

Petitions Committee Chair Catherine McKinnell MP has written to a Government minister to implore the Government to recognise the urgency of the effect of COVID-19 on maternity leave and new parents, and to respond to the Committee’s recent landmark report on the critical issue ‘before it’s too late’.

Responding to the Government’s failure to respond to the report before Summer Recess, she urges the Minister to consider immediate action on several recommendations put forward by the Committee, and asks that the Government responds to the Committee’s report as soon as possible. The letter highlights that the issues raised in the Committee’s report have had a profound impact on parents now, with many being unable to wait until the autumn for a response.

Read the full letter here: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/2249/documents/20688/default/

You can read the letter from Paul Scully MP, Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Labour Markets here: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/2186/documents/20153/default/

The Petitions Committee has received the Government's response to its report on the Impact of Covid-19 on maternity and parental leave, which was prompted by this petition.

Read the response here from 00:01 on Wednesday 9 September: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5801/cmselect/cmpetitions/770/77002.htm.

The Petitions Committee has agreed to debate this petition on Monday 5 October in Westminster Hall, so MPs can scrutinise the Government's response to its report on the Impact of Covid-19 on maternity and parental leave.

The re-opening of Westminster Hall for debates is subject to the agreement of the House of Commons, so this date is subject to change.

The debate follows the publication of the Government's response, which rejects most of the report's recommendations aimed at lessening the impact of the pandemic on new parents.

Find out more, including reaction from Committee Chair Catherine McKinnell MP: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/news/117406/committee-express-disappointment-at-government-response-to-its-report-on-impact-of-covid19-on-maternity-and-parental-leave/

Petitions Committee Chair Catherine McKinnell MP has put petitioners' concerns to Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Watch the session here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mv8SXHGIgWQ

Joining the Liaison Committee, a cross-party group of select committee Chairs, Ms McKinnell asked the Prime Minister about:

• The Government's response to the Committee's report on the impact of Covid-19 on maternity and parental leave
• The inclusion of children in new social distancing rules, and the implications for families and childcare settings
• Access to Covid-19 testing

The Petitions Committee will be writing to the Prime Minister to follow-up on his commitment to consider the report's recommendations, and plan to debate the report and the Government's response on 5 October in Westminster Hall.

Follow us on Twitter for updates on our work on these issues: https://www.twitter.com/hocpetitions

Following the announcement yesterday that Westminster Hall would reopen after its closure in March, the Petitions Committee has scheduled a debate on the impact of Covid-19 on maternity and parental leave on the day it reopens. This will take place on Monday 5 October from 4:30pm and Catherine McKinnell MP, Chair of the Committee, will open the debate.

Petitioners will be able to watch the debate online here: https://www.parliamentlive.tv/Guide

You may wish to contact your MP to ask them to speak in the debate: https://members.parliament.uk/FindYourMP

Following his appearance in front of the Liaison Committee last week, where the Chair asked him about the Government’s response to the maternity report, the Committee has written to the Prime Minister to ask him to read the report and respond before the debate.

You can read the letter here: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/2698/documents/26693/default/

Watch the Chair question the Prime Minister at the Liaison Committee session here: https://youtu.be/mv8SXHGIgWQ?t=1815

The Committee has also written again to Paul Scully MP, Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Labour Markets, to ask for an update on his department’s plans for meeting with representatives of the baby group sector. In the letter, the Committee highlights how the new restrictions on meetings of more than six people have caused further confusion to this sector, and requests urgent clarification.

You can read the letter here: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/2699/documents/26695/default/

Follow the Committee on Twitter for updates on our work on this issue and others: https://www.twitter.com/hocpetitions

The Petitions Committee has published additional written evidence from charities and representatives of the childcare sector, in light of the Government's response to its report on the impact of Covid-19 on maternity and parental leave.

Read it here: https://committees.parliament.uk/work/192/the-governments-response-to-coronavirus/publications/written-evidence/
Read the response from Maternity Action: https://maternityaction.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Crisis-what-crisis-Sept-2020.pdf

The Committee has scheduled a debate on this petition for 5 October, when MPs will discuss the report and the Government's response. Watch the 90 minute debate live on YouTube from 4.30pm: https://youtu.be/dA4DoukYuXo

Following Monday’s debate on this petition, the Chair of the Petitions Committee, Catherine McKinnell MP, has recorded a personal message for you and all those who signed this petition.

Watch the message here: https://youtu.be/1lP3u_NM62M

Throughout the Committee’s inquiry, petitioners have shared their personal stories to inform this work. Thank you once again to everyone who took part in surveys and shared their experiences with us.

Watch the debate on UK Parliament Youtube: https://youtu.be/UlbBQ3bSnNQ

Read a transcript of the debate: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2020-10-05/debates/C34D435A-FA13-450E-B3FB-8B03C63287CB/Covid-19MaternityAndParentalLeave

Read the Petitions Committee’s report on the impact of Covid-19 on maternity and parental leave: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/1759/documents/17170/default/

Follow the Petitions Committee on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HoCpetitions

On 16 September, the Chair of the Petitions Committee asked the Prime Minister about the Government's response to its report on the issues raised within this petition, during a meeting of the Liaison Committee.

Watch the Catherine McKinnel ask the Prime Minister about the Government's response to its report: https://youtu.be/mv8SXHGIgWQ?t=1815

The Prime Minister has responded to this question in a letter to the Liaison Committee. You can read the letter here: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/2927/documents/28169/default/

The Petitions Committee also wrote to the Government about its guidance and support for baby and toddler groups. The Government has now responded to this letter.

Read the Committee's letter: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/2699/documents/26695/default/

Read the Government's response:
https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/2970/documents/28398/default/

Following the recent debate on this petition, the Chair of the Petitions Committee, Catherine McKinnell MP, recorded a personal message for you and all those who signed this petition.

Watch the message here: https://youtu.be/1lP3u_NM62M

A campaign by petitioners, including one who gave evidence to the Petitions Committee inquiry on the impact of Covid-19 on maternity and parental leave, has resulted in the Government updating its guidance to exempt baby and toddler groups from gatherings limits in all tiers.

The Committee’s inquiry into the impact of Covid-19 on maternity and parental leave heard that parent, baby and toddler groups were vital for the mental health of new parents. In its landmark report, the Committee urged the Government to meet with the sector to ensure necessary support was received.

The Committee also received a petition with almost 15,000 signatures calling for better clarity and support for the sector. The Committee wrote to the Government in September when it emerged the lack of clarity within the guidance was forcing many groups to close.

Chair of the Petitions Committee, Catherine McKinnell said:

“The recent addition of parent, baby and toddler groups to the list of exemptions from gathering limits in all tiers is a clear, if long overdue, acknowledgement by the Government that they are vital to young families and our society as a whole.

“Our inquiry heard compelling evidence from new parents and experts on how crucial these groups can be for the mental health of new parents, providing support and a much-needed lifeline at such an important time in their lives.

“This addition to the guidance on exemptions is testament to our petitioners and campaigners who worked tirelessly to demand clarity for the sector, and of the power of the petitions system.

“Because of these petitioners’ drive for change, many who otherwise might not have had the support they need will be able to access these groups during what has been, and continues to be, an extremely challenging time for new parents.”

What does the new guidance say?

With the updated guidance now explicitly mentioning these groups, many are now clearly exempt from gatherings limits. The official exemptions in all tiers include:

• Supervised activities provided for children, including wraparound care (before and after-school childcare), groups and activities for under 18s, and children’s playgroups, for formal support groups, and parent and child groups – up to 15 people aged five and older.

• In the guidance for early years and childcare providers, the following exemptions are included:
o Parent and child groups that meet in Ofsted registered settings can operate in all local restriction tiers.
o Groups meeting in community spaces, such as in a place of worship, community centre or library, can operate in all local restriction tiers and should follow COVID secure guidance for the venue.

Read the full guidance here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures#parent-and-child-groups

Read about the Committee’s report here: https://houseofcommons.shorthandstories.com/how-has-maternity-and-parental-leave-been-impacted-by-coronavirus-/index.html

Find the petition asking for clarity for the baby group sector here: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/331261

Read the letter to the Government here: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/2699/documents/26695/default/
And the Government’s reply here: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/2970/documents/28398/default/

In their latest report, released on 26 February, MPs on the House of Commons Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Committee have recommended that the Government reviews the coverage of current Covid-19 support, including the furlough and SEISS schemes, to make sure that the greatest support is provided to those individuals facing most hardship, including new mothers, and that any gaps in provision are addressed. The Committee expects to see such measures in the upcoming Budget.

Read the report: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/4831/documents/48550/default/

Referencing the Petitions Committee's report on the Impact of Covid-19 on maternity and parental leave, the BEIS Committee report describes mothers being discriminated against by virtue of having taken parental leave in the last three years as being a "particularly egregious example of the (Government's) failure to refine support".

Read the Petitions Committee's report on the Impact of Covid-19 on maternity and parental leave: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/1759/documents/17170/default/
Read the Government's response to our report: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/2186/documents/24746/default/

What is the BEIS Committee?

The Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Committee is a cross-party group of backbench MPs appointed to scrutinise the policy, spending and administration of the Government's Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and its public bodies, including Ofgem, the Financial Reporting Council and the Committee on Climate Change.

Follow the BEIS Committee on Twitter for real-time updates on its work: https://twitter.com/CommonsBEIS

On Wednesday 10 March, Sarah Olney MP is leading a debate on maternal mental health.

In preparation for her debate, she wants to hear from those who have given birth in the last 18 months. Specifically, she wants to understand the impact of the pandemic on maternal mental health, and whether support services were effective.

She will use your insights to inform the case she puts to the Government, and may quote your story directly during her debate.

Find out more and share your experiences with Sarah here: https://houseofcommons.shorthandstories.com/maternal-mental-health/index.html

You’ll also be able to watch the debate from 2.30pm on Wednesday 10 March on that page.

The debate transcript and other relevant material will be available shortly after the debate.

The deadline for contributions is midday on Tuesday 9 March.

What are Westminster Hall debates?

Westminster Hall debates give MPs an opportunity to raise local or national issues and receive a response from a government minister. Any MP can take part in a Westminster Hall debate.

Please note: Due to covid-19 measures, Westminster Hall debates were suspended from 14 January 2021. From Monday 8 March 2021, Westminster Hall proceedings will resume in hybrid form in a designated committee room. MPs will be able to take part virtually or in person.

Find out more about Westminster Hall debates: https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/business/debates/westminster-hall-debates/

Stay informed

Follow the Petitions Committee on Twitter for real-time updates on its work: https://www.twitter.com/hocpetitions

On Wednesday 10 March, Sarah Olney MP led a Westminster Hall debate on maternal mental health. In advance of the debate, the public were invited to share their experiences of the issue.

Many people who signed this petition contributed their stories of how the pandemic had impacted their experience of pregnancy, childbirth, and what the effect had been on their mental health. Sarah quoted several contributors during her speech, and other MPs also referred to the contributions. Thank you to everyone who took part.

You can watch the debate, watch a thank you video from Sarah, and access other relevant resources here: https://houseofcommons.shorthandstories.com/maternal-mental-health/index.html

If you took part and contributed your story, please let us know how you found the experience here: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/YVAA1/

The Chair of the Petitions Committee has written to the Government in response to the recent change to Covid-19 guidance about parents singing in baby and toddler groups.

The updated government guidance says that "singing can be undertaken in these settings", but that "it should only be the group leader and children".

In her letter, the Chair of the Committee, Catherine McKinnell MP, expresses concern that this change in the guidance "could severely limit the benefits to parents and children of these classes, cause significant disruption to providers of these classes when they have only just been allowed to restart, and ultimately deter parents from attending classes which they may have signed up for based on different expectations of the services that would be available – ultimately causing them and their children to miss out on the critical support these classes can provide."

She specifically asks if the Government will consider amending the guidance to provide specific clarification for baby and toddler groups on how they could include singing safely in their activities.

Read the letter in full: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/5358/documents/53399/default/

We'll let you know when the Government responds.

Background

Baby and toddler groups were able to restart on 29 March in outdoor settings.

You can read the current guidance for early years and childcare providers here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures/actions-for-early-years-and-childcare-providers-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak#childrens-attendance

You can read the government guidelines on the suggested principles of safer singing here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-suggested-principles-of-safer-singing/covid-19-suggested-principles-of-safer-singing

Previous work by the Petitions Committee on this issue

The Committee’s inquiry into the impact of Covid-19 on maternity and parental leave (triggered by this petition) heard that parent, baby and toddler groups were vital for the mental health of new parents.

In its report, the Committee urged the Government to meet with the sector to ensure necessary support was received.

Read about the Committee’s report here: https://houseofcommons.shorthandstories.com/how-has-maternity-and-parental-leave-been-impacted-by-coronavirus-/index.html

The Committee previously wrote to the Government in September last year when it emerged the lack of clarity within the guidance was forcing many groups to close.

Together with the hard work of petitioners, the Government updated its guidance to clearly exempt baby and toddler groups from gatherings limits.

Read the letter to the Government here: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/2699/documents/26695/default/

And the Government’s reply here: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/2970/documents/28398/default/

What is the Petitions Committee?

The House of Commons Petitions Committee is a cross-party group of MPs that looks at e-petitions submitted on petition.parliament.uk. It is independent from Government.

Find out more about the Petitions Committee: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/

Follow the Petitions Committee on Twitter for real-time updates on its work: https://twitter.com/HoCpetitions

Watch a short video about how petitions work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGEOraE08Jk

Petitions Committee Chair Catherine McKinnell MP has written to Minister for Children and Families Vicky Ford MP to ask for further clarity regarding guidance on safe singing in baby and toddler groups.

In the letter dated Tuesday 27 April, Catherine McKinnell asks the Minister to clarify recently updated Government guidance on how singing can take place safely in baby and toddler groups during the covid-19 pandemic.

Read the Committee’s latest letter: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/5697/documents/56154/default/

This request for further information follows the Minister's response to an earlier letter from Catherine McKinnell calling for clarity on the original guidance, in light of concerns that it limited parents’ ability to take part in these activities. Some parents were worried that many young children might be less likely to take part in, or experience the full benefit of, these exercises without encouragement and participation from their parents.

Read the Government's initial response: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/5696/documents/56151/default/
Read the Committee’s original letter: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/5358/documents/53399/default/

MPs on the Petitions Committee want to know what's changed for new parents one year on from their report into the Impact of Covid-19 on maternity and parental leave, published in July 2020. 

The Committee is also considering how the pandemic has affected the cost and provision of childcare, in response to a petition calling for an independent review of childcare funding and affordability.

Share your experiences through this short survey: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/8PXAU4/

The deadline for responses is 12noon on Monday 28 June.

Read a summary of the Committee's report: https://houseofcommons.shorthandstories.com/how-has-maternity-and-parental-leave-been-impacted-by-coronavirus-/index.html

What is the Petitions Committee?

The Petitions Committee is a cross-party group of MPs appointed by the House of Commons to consider e-petitions and public (paper) petitions.

Find out more about the Petitions Committee: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/membership/
Follow the Committee on Twitter for real-time updates on its work: https://www.twitter.com/hocpetitions

The Petitions Committee will hear from petition creators and expert witnesses on the impact of covid-19 on new parents and childcare providers on Wednesday 14 July.

Watch the session (on Wednesday 14 July from 9.30am): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lERhUe98ASU&feature=youtu.be

The evidence session marks one year since the publication of the Committee's report into the impact of covid-19 on maternity and parental leave.

Read a summary of the Committee’s full report: https://houseofcommons.shorthandstories.com/how-has-maternity-and-parental-leave-been-impacted-by-coronavirus-/index.html

The session will investigate what progress has been made against the problems identified and recommendations made to the Government in the report.

Witnesses include petition signatories, and representatives from campaign and sector bodies Pregnant then Screwed, the Early-Years Alliance, Adoption-UK and others. A full list of witnesses is available on the Petitions Committee website: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/news/156378/committee-announces-evidence-session-on-the-impact-of-covid19-on-new-parents/

Survey on the impact of covid-19 on new parents

Last month, we asked you to share your experiences through an online survey to help inform the session. We also asked the experiences of Mumsnet users. Key findings from this engagement include:

• Access to baby and toddler groups, which provide vital support for both parents and children, remains limited even as restrictions ease. 68% of respondents told us they strongly disagreed with the statement that “I have been able to access baby and toddler groups over the past 12 months”
• 77% of respondents told us they strongly agree or agree with the statement that “The cost of childcare has prevented me from getting the kind of childcare I need”
• 72% of respondents who said they ran or worked for a childcare setting told us they expected the pandemic to have a major or moderate effect on their setting’s long-term financial sustainability

You can read a full summary of what new parents and childcare providers told us on our website: https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/37718/pdf/

What are evidence sessions?

Evidence sessions are open meetings with experts, officials or people with personal experiences with the topic being examined. Evidence sessions help select committees like the Petitions Committee to understand how laws and Government policies are working in the real world, and what needs to change to make things better.

Further information

Find out more about the role of the Petitions Committee: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/role/

Follow the Committee on Twitter for real-time updates on its work: https://www.twitter.com/hocpetitions

Find out more about select committees: https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/committees/select/

MPs from the Petitions Committee held an evidence session with experts, campaigners and petition signatories on the impact of covid-19 on new parents and childcare providers on Wednesday 14 July.
 
During the session, the Committee heard that parents’ circumstances, such as being unable to find appropriate childcare, affected their ability to return to work as planned.
 
They also heard that providers of baby and toddler classes are finding that children coming to class are not as developed as they would expect, particularly socially.
 
If you missed it, watch the debate: https://youtu.be/lERhUe98ASU?t=499
 
Alternatively, you can read a transcript of the session on the Parliament website: https://committees.parliament.uk/oralevidence/2561/default/
 

Survey

Ahead of the session, the MPs on the Committee asked for your experiences through an online survey. More than 8,700 new parents and childcare providers responded.
 
Respondents told MPs that the pandemic has significantly affected access to baby and toddler groups. They said that the cost of childcare is prohibitively expensive, and that childcare settings expect the pandemic to have had a moderate to major effect on their long-term financial sustainability.

Read an interactive summary of the survey: https://houseofcommons.shorthandstories.com/lockdown-impact-on-new-parents-petitions/index.html
 

The House Magazine

Following the evidence session, the Chair of the Petitions Committee Catherine McKinnell MP wrote an article for the House Magazine about what the Committee learned from petition creators and expert witnesses. Read the article: https://www.politicshome.com/thehouse/article/government-risks-failing-babies-and-parents-struggling-to-cope-during-covid

Impact of covid-19 and maternity and parental leave: one year on

The evidence session marked one year since the publication of the Committee's report into the impact of covid-19 on maternity and parental leave, a summary of which you can read here: https://houseofcommons.shorthandstories.com/how-has-maternity-and-parental-leave-been-impacted-by-coronavirus-/index.html

What are evidence sessions?

Evidence sessions are open meetings where MPs examine experts, officials or people with personal experiences of a topic. Evidence sessions help select committees like the Petitions Committee to understand how laws and Government policies are working in the real world, and what needs to change to make things better.
 

Further information

Find out more about the role of the Petitions Committee: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/role/
Follow the Committee on Twitter for real-time updates on its work: https://www.twitter.com/hocpetitions
Find out more about select committees: https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/committees/select/

On Thursday 7 October, the Petitions Committee published its report on the impact of covid-19 on new parents: one year on, which calls on the Government to publish a dedicated covid-19 recovery strategy for new parents.

Read the report (html): https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5802/cmselect/cmpetitions/479/47902.htm
Read the report (pdf): https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/7477/documents/78447/default/

Key recommendations

In light of the pandemic’s ongoing impact on new parents, as set out in the report, and the need for a sustained focus from the Government to support this group, the committee’s new report recommends that the Government should publish a dedicated covid-19 recovery strategy for new parents, bringing together all Government actions to support this group, with a clear delivery plan.

Other key recommendations made in the report include calling on the Government to:

• Provide additional funding and resources to allow catch-up mental health support for new parents impacted by covid-19 and accelerate planned capacity-building in perinatal mental health services
• Fund local authorities in order to arrange in-person visits to new parents by the appropriate local authority, voluntary organisation, or health visiting staff by the end of the year
• Review monitoring and enforcement activity relating to employers’ health and safety obligations to pregnant women
• Legislate as soon as possible to introduce the planned extension of redundancy protections for new and expectant mothers
• Commission a review into the funding and affordability of childcare, to consider how to provide greater financial security to the sector following the pandemic and ensure childcare provision meets the needs of new parents seeking to return to work

Find out more, including comment from Petitions Committee Chair Catherine McKinnell MP: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/news/157932/new-parents-need-a-dedicated-covid19-recovery-strategy-says-committee/

Background

This new report follows the committee’s inquiry last year into the impact of covid-19 on maternity and parental leave, which found that “the impact of the pandemic on new parents and their children has so far not been given as much attention as it should have been”.

Read the report: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5801/cmselect/cmpetitions/526/52602.htm

However, while the Government’s response to that report expressed sympathy with the position of expectant and new parents, it did not accept the committee’s recommendations on actions to address this impact.

What happens next?

The Petitions Committee have submitted the report to the Government for their consideration. Once it’s been received, the committee will publish the Government’s response on its website and notify petitioners.

The Government has told the Petitions Committee that their response to the Committee's latest report on the Impact of covid-19 on new parents will be delayed. The Government’s response was expected by 7 December, as the Government is expected to respond to all select committee reports within two months.

In a letter dated 13 December, Maggie Throup MP, a Minister in the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC), says this is to allow time for the DHSC to coordinate with other departments on its response.

We will let you know once the Government's response has been received and published.

Read the letter: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/8265/documents/84382/default/

Find out more: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/news/159915/government-delay-in-responding-to-report-is-disappointing-says-chair-of-the-petitions-committee/

Chair of the Petitions Committee responds to delayed Government response

Commenting on the delay in responding to the Committee's report, Catherine McKinnell MP, Chair of the Petitions Committee, said:

"I am disappointed the Government has failed to respond to our report on the impact of covid-19 on new parents on time. New parents, who have faced an accumulation of adversity during the pandemic, could be forgiven for seeing this delay as yet another sign that the Government is ignoring them.

"While I appreciate our report calls for coordinated action across Government, it is vital that Ministers provide a meaningful response to our constructive recommendations at the earliest opportunity, to ensure new parents are not let down any further."

The Petitions Committee's report on the impact of covid-19 on new parents

The Committee’s report, published in October, made a number of recommendations to the Government calling for better support for new parents and their babies, including for a dedicated covid-19 recovery strategy for new parents, and additional ‘catch-up’ mental health support.

Read the report [HTML]: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5802/cmselect/cmpetitions/479/47903.htm

Read the report [PDF]: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/7477/documents/78447/default/

Read the report summary: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5802/cmselect/cmpetitions/479/47903.htm

Read the report's conclusions and recommendations: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5802/cmselect/cmpetitions/479/47910.htm