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1252200

registered interest
date	16/11/2020
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Employment: Pregnancy
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make it a legal requirement for employers to allow all pregnant women who pass (a) 20 weeks or (b) 28 weeks gestation to work from home or be suspended on full pay during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Midlothian
tabling member printed	Owen Thompson
uin	115730
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2020 answer text <p>Ministers and officials regularly discuss a wide range of issues relating to Coronavirus and employment rights. Existing legislation and public health guidance covering the health and safety of pregnant women in the workplace puts in place protections to cover the risks pregnant women may face during the Coronavirus outbreak. The Department of Health and Social Care is also working with the Health and Safety Executive, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Royal College of Midwives and health departments in the devolved nations on developing guidance on occupational health advice for pregnant women in the workplace. The Department plans to publish the guidance shortly.</p><p> </p><p>Under current public health guidance, pregnant women are in the clinically vulnerable group. This means that they are advised to work from home where it is possible to do so. Where working from home is not possible, pregnant women can attend a place of work provided this is supported by the employer's health and safety risk assessment and particular attention is paid to social distancing guidelines. Guidance on working safely can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19</a>.</p><p> </p><p>A small number of pregnant women are considered to be clinically extremely vulnerable. Current guidance strongly advises that clinically extremely vulnerable individuals work from home. Where this is not possible they are advised not to attend work for this period of restrictions. The guidance makes clear that pregnant women who are clinically extremely vulnerable and cannot work from home should be suspended on full pay. This is in line with normal requirements under regulation 16(3) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. This guidance can be found here: <a href="https://www.hse.gov.uk/coronavirus/working-safely/protect-people.htm?utm_source=govdelivery&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=coronavirus&amp;utm_term=more-2&amp;utm_content=digest-10-jul-20#pregnant_workers" target="_blank">https://www.hse.gov.uk/coronavirus/working-safely/protect-people.htm?utm_source=govdelivery&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=coronavirus&amp;utm_term=more-2&amp;utm_content=digest-10-jul-20#pregnant_workers</a>.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully grouped question UIN 115733 question first answered 19/11/2020 16:58:40 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
tabling member	4482 label Biography information for Owen Thompson

1252201

registered interest
date	16/11/2020
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	Employment: Pregnancy
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will issue guidance to employers to allow all pregnant women who pass (a) 20 weeks or (b) 28 weeks gestation to work from home or be suspended on full pay during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Midlothian
tabling member printed	Owen Thompson
uin	115731
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/11/2020 answer text <p>The Department is working with the Health and Safety Executive, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Royal College of Midwives and health departments in the devolved administrations on developing guidance on occupational health advice for pregnant women in the workplace. The Department plans to publish the guidance shortly.</p> answering member constituency Mid Bedfordshire answering member printed Ms Nadine Dorries question first answered 24/11/2020 15:48:33 answering member 1481 label Biography information for Ms Nadine Dorries previous answer version 62823 answering member constituency Mid Bedfordshire answering member printed Ms Nadine Dorries answering member 1481 label Biography information for Ms Nadine Dorries
tabling member	4482 label Biography information for Owen Thompson

1252202

registered interest
date	16/11/2020
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Employment: Pregnancy
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she has taken to (a) ensure that employers undertake covid-19 risk assessments for pregnant employees and (b) act in accordance with the result of those assessments.
tabling member constituency	Midlothian
tabling member printed	Owen Thompson
uin	115732
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2020 answer text <p>(a) Employers are required to carry out risk assessments for all pregnant workers and protect them from harm. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) website has guidance on managing the risks of COVID-19 and specific information on protecting vulnerable workers, which includes the health and safety responsibilities for pregnant workers.</p><p>(b) Employers have a legal duty to act in accordance with the results of their risk assessment for pregnant workers. Where employers are not doing so, workers can contact the HSE to raise their concerns which will be followed up.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 19/11/2020 17:49:33 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4482 label Biography information for Owen Thompson

1191009

registered interest
date	28/04/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Employment: Pregnancy
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to issue guidance to (a) businesses and (b) employers on the (i) support they are required to provide to pregnant employees and (ii) the furloughing of pregnant employees who are unable to work safely or work from home during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Arfon
tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
uin	40995
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>It is against the law to discriminate against anyone because of being pregnant. The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 continue to apply, and guidance can be found here: https://www.hse.gov.uk/mothers/law.htm.</p><p> </p><p>An employee can be furloughed if they are pregnant, including if they are following shielding measures in line with public health guidance. When furloughing pregnant employees, the normal rules for maternity and other forms of parental leave and pay apply. Employers can claim through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) for enhanced (earnings related) contractual pay for employees who qualify for maternity pay.</p><p> </p><p>All employers are eligible to claim under the scheme and the Government recognises different businesses will face different impacts from coronavirus. Guidance on the scheme is available for employers at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-job-retention-scheme-step-by-step-guide-for-employers" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-job-retention-scheme-step-by-step-guide-for-employers</a>, and for employees at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-could-be-covered-by-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-could-be-covered-by-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme</a>.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 04/05/2020 13:37:09 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams

1189735

registered interest
date	21/04/2020
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Employment: Pregnancy
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that pregnant employees do not suffer detriment at work, including dismissal or less favourable treatment, as a result of following public health guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
tabling member printed	Baroness Burt of Solihull
uin	HL3252
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/05/2020 answer text <p>Government is determined to ensure that pregnant women do not suffer detriment at work in any circumstances, including where they have followed public heath guidance.</p><p> </p><p>The Coronavirus outbreak has not changed the law on pregnancy and maternity discrimination. There is no place for it under any circumstances. If a pregnant woman is dismissed or made redundant on the grounds of her pregnancy, this is automatically unfair dismissal.</p><p> </p><p>Under Health and Safety legislation, it remains the employer’s responsibility to put in place arrangements to control health and safety risks. There are already specific requirements in place for pregnant workers and guidance from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) sets out the expectations around risk assessments, finding alternative work and medical suspension, where necessary.</p><p> </p><p>In terms of new specific coronavirus interventions, HSE will consider taking a range of actions to improve control of workplace risks where it is clear an employer is not following Public Health England guidance properly (eg not taking appropriate action on social distancing or ensuring workers in the shielded category can follow advice to self-isolate). Government guidance on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme also makes it clear that pregnant women can be furloughed if they and their employer agree, and provided they meet the normal eligibility requirements.</p> answering member printed Lord Callanan question first answered 05/05/2020 13:00:20 answering member 4336 label Biography information for Lord Callanan
tabling member	1567 label Biography information for Baroness Burt of Solihull

1171364

registered interest
date	16/01/2020
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Employment: Pregnancy
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps she is taking to end maternity discrimination; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Harrow West
tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
uin	4292
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/01/2020 answer text <p>The Government recognises the importance of tackling pregnancy and maternity discrimination.</p><p> </p><p>That is why we committed in our Manifesto to reform the law so that women returning from maternity leave receive additional protection from redundancy.</p><p> </p><p>We will extend the redundancy protection period for six months once a new mother has returned to work and provide similar protections for those parents taking adoption leave and shared parental leave.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 23/01/2020 15:35:51 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

1134810

registered interest
date	26/06/2019
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Employment: Pregnancy
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that employers meet their legal obligations to pregnant employees.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
uin	269738
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2019 answer text <p>The Government has taken a number of steps to increase employers’ awareness of their legal obligations to pregnant employees. This has included working with ACAS to develop comprehensive advice and guidance and updating the content on the GOV.UK website. The Government’s recent consultation on pregnancy and maternity discrimination also asked how effective the current approach is in helping employees and employers to understand their rights and obligations. We will be publishing the Government response in due course.</p><p>The Equality Advisory and Support Service advises and assists individuals on issues relating to equality and human rights, across England, Scotland and Wales. Where an employer fails to meet its obligations, a pregnant employee can seek redress through an employment tribunal.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst grouped question UIN 269739 question first answered 02/07/2019 14:09:42 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

1134811

registered interest
date	26/06/2019
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Employment: Pregnancy
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what action will be taken against employers who do not meet their legal obligations to pregnant employees.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
uin	269739
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2019 answer text <p>The Government has taken a number of steps to increase employers’ awareness of their legal obligations to pregnant employees. This has included working with ACAS to develop comprehensive advice and guidance and updating the content on the GOV.UK website. The Government’s recent consultation on pregnancy and maternity discrimination also asked how effective the current approach is in helping employees and employers to understand their rights and obligations. We will be publishing the Government response in due course.</p><p>The Equality Advisory and Support Service advises and assists individuals on issues relating to equality and human rights, across England, Scotland and Wales. Where an employer fails to meet its obligations, a pregnant employee can seek redress through an employment tribunal.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst grouped question UIN 269738 question first answered 02/07/2019 14:09:42 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

1002130

registered interest
date	05/11/2018
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Employment: Pregnancy
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what progress he has made on consolidating guidance on legislation to protect people who are pregnant or on maternity leave as recommended by the Taylor review of modern working practices.
tabling member constituency	East Dunbartonshire
tabling member printed	Jo Swinson
uin	188083
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>Last year, Acas published new comprehensive guidance on pregnancy and maternity discrimination and workplace rights and obligations.</p><p> </p><p>This summer we have reviewed the GOV.UK guidance material on the protections for people who are pregnant or on maternity leave and we are now updating and improving signposting.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 19/11/2018 15:39:48 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson