Darren Henry MP has introduced a 10 Minute Rule Bill in the House of Commons today that seeks to strengthen the entitlement for shared parental leave and pay in certain cases where one or both of a child’s parents has died.
During a recent session of Prime Minister’s Questions, Broxtowe’s MP raised the sad case of Aaron and his son Tim. Aaron’s wife, Bernadette, passed away whilst giving birth to their beautiful baby. However, owing to a gap in the law Aaron found himself not entitled to leave.
Following a productive meeting that Darren and Aaron held with Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Minister, Kevin Hollinrake MP and a segment on regional news, Darren has introduced this Bill which seeks to amend the law ensuring that leave and pay is available to those who find themselves in situations such as Aaron’s. So that no future parents are faced with the devastating position of raising a child, grieving, and doing so in the shadow of avoidable job insecurity.
Shared Parental Leave was introduced in 2015 with the intention of creating a new and more equal system which allows both parents to keep a strong link to their workplace. However, due to a gap in the current legislation, it meant that Aaron and others like him could not access this in the same way.
Darren Henry MP commented:
‘As a father myself, I know that being a parent to a new-born is a huge undertaking at the best of times; I cannot imagine being in that position whilst facing the fact your partner has died during childbirth.
I truly hope that no one has to find themselves in the position that Aaron did, unable to share the beginning of Tim’s life with his loving wife. But it is the aim of this Bill that for those who do, they do not find themselves without the law behind them.
Since taking up this issue, I have been contacted by many others with similar cases to that experienced by Aaron and they have been truly heart-breaking to hear. This has only firmed my resolve to get this crucial change to the law enacted.
I would like to thank all other Members of Parliament who have been supportive of this Bill. I have received overwhelming cross-party backing on this issue. This Bill has the potential to make a real impact to those who need it. Although the change may seem small, the impact to the life of an individual could be insurmountable.’
