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Question for Women and Equalities

UIN 233591, tabled on 18 March 2019

Question

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
Labour
Slough
Commons

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on increasing the viability of Shared Parental Leave to parents.

Answer

Victoria Atkins
Conservative
Louth and Horncastle
Commons

Answered on

21 March 2019

We are working with the Department for Work and Pensions, as part of our forthcoming strategy on gender equality and economic empowerment, to understand what more can be done to support parents to take Shared Parental Leave.

The Government is currently evaluating the Shared Parental Leave and Pay scheme - this will look at take-up rates, barriers to take-up and how the scheme is being used in practice. We expect to be in a position to report findings later this year. The ‘Share the Joy’ communications campaign, jointly funded by the Government Equalities Office and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, is currently promoting Shared Parental Leave to eligible parents and is supported by tools and guidance for parents.

Answered by

Women and Equalities
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