The UK\u2019s maternity leave arrangements are among the most generous in the world. All employed mothers are entitled to up to 52 weeks of maternity leave and most are entitled to 39 weeks of statutory pay - nearly three times the minimum required by the EU. This provides mothers with sufficient leave to cope with unexpected eventualities including ill health and complications associated with multiple births.<\/p>
<\/p>
Employers must also allow their pregnant employees paid time off work for all antenatal care. A pregnant woman expecting a multiple birth will therefore be entitled to sufficient time off work to attend additional antenatal appointments as required.<\/p>
<\/strong><\/p> Paternity Leave provisions give the father/partner some flexibility in when to take up to two weeks of leave, subject to eligibility. Fathers/partners also have other employment rights which can support them in adjusting to challenging circumstances such as multiple births. These include the right to emergency leave (time off for dependents), the right to Parental Leave (which extends to all employed parents) and a right to time off work to attend up to two antenatal appointments.<\/p> <\/p> <\/strong><\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4115", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Margot James"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Stourbridge"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Margot James"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-07-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-07-13T10:02:17.197Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-07-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Parental Leave: Multiple Births"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment the Government has made of the adequacy of the length of maternity and paternity leave of parents who have multiple births.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3966", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ian Murray"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Edinburgh South"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Ian Murray"}
], "uin" : "3880"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/749707", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/749707/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Department works closely with the UK automotive industry to understand the impacts and opportunities of leaving the EU. The Government will continue its longstanding programme of support for the sector\u2019s competitiveness. We are determined to ensure that the UK continues to be one of the most competitive locations in the world for automotive and advanced manufacturing. This includes seeking a tariff and barrier-free comprehensive free trade deal in goods and services with the EU for a new, mutually beneficial customs agreement that allows cross-border trade to be as frictionless as possible<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3974", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Claire Perry"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Devizes"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Claire Perry"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-07-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "previousAnswerVersion" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/749707/answer/previousversion/3994", "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3974", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Claire Perry"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Devizes"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Claire Perry"}
}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-07-13T16:17:12.243Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-07-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps the Government is taking to support the British automotive industry after the UK leaves the EU.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4046", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Bridget Phillipson"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Houghton and Sunderland South"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Bridget Phillipson"}
], "uin" : "3635"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/749708", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/749708/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The value of contracts awarded by the core departments of BIS and DECC prior to June 2016, and thereafter BEIS, with McKinsey & Co is:<\/p> 2015 - £449,000<\/p> 2016 - £ Nil<\/p> 2017 - £ Nil<\/p> <\/p> BEIS does not hold central records prior to 2015.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4115", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Margot James"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Stourbridge"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Margot James"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-07-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-07-12T14:42:38.397Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-07-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: McKinsey and Company"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will publish the value of the contracts awarded by his Department to McKinsey & Co in each year since 2010.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/410", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jon Trickett"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hemsworth"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jon Trickett"}
], "uin" : "3637"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/749373", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/749373/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The 2016 Apprenticeship Pay Survey report will be published in due course.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4068", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Harrington of Watford"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Watford"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Richard Harrington"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-07-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-07-11T09:50:54.013Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-07-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Apprentices: Pay"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he plans to publish the findings of the 2016 Apprenticeship Pay Survey.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/465", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Gordon Marsden"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Blackpool South"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Gordon Marsden"}
], "uin" : "3394"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/749502", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/749502/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Government provides a range of guidance on the provision of flexible hours, including for mothers returning to work. This includes guidance on the GOV.UK website covering what employers have to do, types of flexible working, the statutory application process and appeals. ACAS also provides advice and guidance.<\/p> As we said in response to the Women & Equalities Select Committee report on the gender pay gap, the Government recognises the need to increase communications activity around flexible working and will explore options for doing so.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4115", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Margot James"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Stourbridge"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Margot James"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-07-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-07-12T11:10:25.897Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-07-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Working Mothers: Flexible Working"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what guidance the Government provides to employers on the provision of flexible hours for mothers returning to work.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4131", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jim Shannon"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Strangford"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jim Shannon"}
], "uin" : "3419"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/749503", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/749503/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Department meets regularly with business organisations to discuss a range of issues including those which can impact upon the gender pay gap. Consultations in 2015 and 2016 on the gender pay gap have emphasised that fully capitalising on the talent and experience of women makes business sense; it is good for individuals, employers and the economy.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4115", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Margot James"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Stourbridge"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Margot James"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-07-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-07-12T11:10:37.617Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-07-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Equal Pay"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with business organisations on the implications of maternity leave and requests for flexible working for the gender pay gap.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4131", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jim Shannon"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Strangford"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jim Shannon"}
], "uin" : "3420"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/749528", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/749528/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) is a non-departmental public body with statutory independence from Ministers. Detailed and specific funding decisions are therefore entirely a matter for HEFCE. In this instance, HEFCE issued a competitive call into which universities across the UK were invited to submit bids for science capital funding. All bids were evaluated by an independent expert assessment panel against clearly defined, published criteria, including a requirement that bids should be built on a strong record of research excellence and should leverage co-investment from non-public sources at a ratio of at least 2:1.<\/p> <\/p> The University of Sheffield\u2019s bid for a \u201cSteel Research and Testing Centre\u201d did not meet all of the criteria on this occasion. A further funding round will open in the Autumn, and the University may submit a revised bid.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3974", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Claire Perry"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Devizes"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Claire Perry"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-07-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-07-11T09:03:09.103Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-07-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "University of Sheffield: Iron and Steel"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the effect of the decision by the Higher Education Funding Council for England not to fund the Advanced Structured Testing Centre at Sheffield University on the UK steel industry; and if he will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4058", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Paul Blomfield"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Sheffield Central"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Paul Blomfield"}
], "uin" : "3549"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/749530", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/749530/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Government is committed to ensuring competitive and affordable energy costs for all businesses as well as households. The Committee on Climate Change recently assessed energy costs for all businesses and concluded that energy costs are a small proportion of businesses\u2019 operating costs.<\/p> In their final report on the investigation into the energy markets published in June 2016, the Competition Markets Authority proposed a number of remedies to help microbusinesses access better energy deals. The Government supports the implementation of these measures which have now been implemented by Ofgem. These will improve the transparency of tariffs available to businesses and by making it easier for these businesses to switch suppliers.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4115", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Margot James"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Stourbridge"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Margot James"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-07-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-07-12T12:39:31.753Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-07-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Energy: Small Businesses"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the effect of energy prices on the viability of small and medium-sized businesses.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4061", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Bill Esterson"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Sefton Central"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Bill Esterson"}
], "uin" : "3324"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/749531", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/749531/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Department has made no such assessment. The effect of any extension of the safeguard tariff would depend on the number of customers who are eligible and the level at which the cap is set. This is a matter for Ofgem, which is currently considering options, including extending the current safeguard tariff.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4068", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Harrington of Watford"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Watford"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Richard Harrington"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-07-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-07-11T14:21:17.633Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-07-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Energy: Prices"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate his Department has made of the potential reduction in the domestic energy market consumer detriment to be achieved by implementing an extension of the pre-payment meter safeguard tariff to those eligible for Warm Home Discount who have a credit meter.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/389", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Caroline Flint"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Don Valley"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Caroline Flint"}
], "uin" : "3335"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/749532", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/749532/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Ofgem is subject to a duty under the Gas Act (1986) and Electricity Act (1989), to consider the interests of consumers who might be considered vulnerable in the domestic energy market. These include those who are disabled, chronically sick, elderly, on low income or live in rural areas.<\/p> Ofgem are also able to take into account the needs of other groups of consumers who may be vulnerable.<\/p> Ofgem\u2019s Consumer Vulnerability Strategy is available online at:<\/p>