VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Parental Leave: Reviews

Asked by Dan NorrisIndependentDepartment for Business and TradeTabled Answered 3 September 2025UIN 69226

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the parental leave review on the gender pay gap.

Answered by Justin Madders

On 1 July, the Government launched the Parental Leave Review, fulfilling its manifesto commitment.

As set out in the terms of reference, the review is scheduled finish roughly 18 months after launch which will be around January 2027.

The Department has not made an assessment on the potential impact of the Review on the gender pay gap at this stage. However the Review’s Terms of Reference set out that one of our objectives for the parental leave and pay system is to support economic growth through labour market participation, including tackling the gender pay gap and motherhood penalty.

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim