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Bereavement Leave

Asked by Luke MurphyLabourDepartment for Business and TradeTabled Answered 19 September 2025UIN 76744

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will bring forward legislative proposals for statutory paid bereavement leave (a) for people grieving the loss of a loved one to suicide and (b) in general.

Answered by Kate Dearden

The loss of a loved one is one of the hardest things a person can experience. This is why we have introduced a new right to bereavement leave in the Employment Rights Bill which will be available to those grieving the loss of a loved one, including to suicide.

The Bill deals with the introduction of leave only, and we will be consulting further on the detail this Autumn. However, it will be at employers' discretion to offer pay, as many already do.

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