Paternity Leave (Bereavement) Bill Debate

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Department: Department for Business and Trade

Paternity Leave (Bereavement) Bill

Sara Britcliffe Excerpts
Sara Britcliffe Portrait Sara Britcliffe (Hyndburn) (Con)
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I congratulate both the hon. Member for Ogmore (Chris Elmore) and my hon. Friend the Member for Broxtowe (Darren Henry) on bringing this Bill to the Chamber today and getting it through Parliament. It is a very important Bill. I have always believed that, as Members of Parliament, our duty first and foremost is to help our constituents, and it is commendable what my hon. Friend has done for his constituent Aaron.

It is a horrible situation even to have to consider. I do not have children myself, but I put myself in the position of one of my constituent’s partners. I have been campaigning for more support for women during their pregnancy because, sadly, one of my constituents committed suicide while pregnant with her daughter Elsie, and her partner, Eddie, was left on his own. That was due to hyperemesis gravidarum, or extreme pregnancy sickness. Within the NHS we are now seeing more support for women throughout their pregnancy, due to the campaign that my constituent’s family have run. What the hon. Member for Ogmore has done today will make a difference—although hopefully not to a lot of people—so congratulations to both him and my hon. Friend the Member for Broxtowe.