To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps her Department is taking to help support working parents who have a baby in neonatal care; what recent progress she has made on implementing the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023; and if she will make a statement.
Answered on
7 September 2023
The Government is committed to introducing Neonatal Care Leave and Pay as soon as possible.
The entitlement will be available to all eligible parents of babies who are admitted into neonatal care up to the age of 28 days, and who have a continuous stay in neonatal care of seven days or more. The period of leave and pay available to parents will be capped at 12 weeks.
Action is continuing to take place across Government to deliver this new entitlement, including preparing the necessary statutory instruments and working with HMRC to update existing systems.