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<p>The House of Commons provides private spaces for expressing milk or feeding in
two publicly accessible areas in the Palace of Westminster. The baby care room is
located on the Upper Committee Corridor and the Health and Wellbeing space is off
the Lower Waiting Hall; the Lower Waiting Hall space is available with agreement from
the practice nurse if it is not being used for a medical emergency.</p><p>In addition,
Commons passholders may access the first aid rooms for expressing milk or feeding
by contacting the reception teams in the following buildings:</p><p>• Portcullis House</p><p>•
1 Parliament Street</p><p>• Richmond House</p><p>• Norman Shaw South</p><p> </p><p>Tothill
Street has a baby care room on the 5th floor.</p><p>For House of Commons and Parliamentary
Digital Service staff, line managers are expected to regularly monitor the working
arrangements of an expectant mother or new parent both throughout pregnancy and if
the member of staff returns to work within six months after the birth or while feeding.</p><p>Parents
of young children returning to work may make a request for flexible working on either
a temporary or permanent basis. Examples of flexible working include part-time working
and working from home.</p><p>The Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) can provide practical
advice and guidance as well as counselling and support on a broad range of issues
including family issues and childcare support. From 1 November employees of the House
of Commons, PDS and House of Lords, have been able to access this service alongside
Members of both Houses and their staff.</p><p>Further support to families is also
available via "My Family Care" which provides a range of practical tools
and resources to support parents. The House also provides a workplace nursery and
users of the House of Commons nursery also have access to the expressing and feeding
facilities in the nursery based in 1 Parliament Street.</p>
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