Private Members Bill receives its first reading: Maternity and Paternity Leave (Premature Birth) Bill 2016-17
31 October 2016
31 October 2016
The Bill was presented to Parliament through the ballot procedure on 26 October 2016. This is known as the first reading and there was no debate on the Bill at this stage. Second reading debate is scheduled for 16 December 2016.
This Bill is a Private Member’s Bill, which are often not printed until close to the second reading debate. If you wish to know more about this bill please contact its sponsor Mr Steve Reed MP Member for Croydon North, however, in brief the Bill seeks to amend Part 8 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 to make provision about maternity and paternity leave for parents of babies born prematurely; and for connected purposes.
This follows the second reading of another Private Member’s Bill, sponsored by Will Quince MP Member for Colchester that also seeks to insert in to Part 8 of the Employment Rights Act, the right for a parent to have up to two weeks paid Statutory Entitlement to Parental Bereavement Leave - first reading. The rate of which is proposed to be the lower of the 90% of the employees average weekly earnings of the standard rate – currently £139.58. The second reading was scheduled for debate on 28 October 2016.