Asked by: Luke Hall (Conservative - Thornbury and Yate)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps the Government is taking to reduce the anticipated 18 months’ lead time that commercial payroll providers require, in order to implement paid neonatal leave following Royal Assent for the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Bill.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Minister without Portfolio
The Government is committed to implementing Neonatal Care Leave and Pay as soon as possible. To deliver this entitlement, it will be necessary to make changes to HMRC systems and for employers and payroll providers to have sufficient notice to update their pay systems. It will also be necessary to have extensive secondary legislation and guidance in place. This work is estimated to take around 18 months following Royal Assent.
BEIS officials are discussing with HMRC and payroll providers whether it is possible to reduce this timeline.
Asked by: Luke Hall (Conservative - Thornbury and Yate)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department has taken to provide businesses with adequate guidance in advance of the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Bill receiving Royal Assent, so that they can prepare for the introduction of paid neonatal leave.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Minister without Portfolio
The Government is committed to implementing Neonatal Care Leave and Pay as soon as possible. To deliver this entitlement, it will be necessary to make changes to HMRC systems and for employers and payroll providers to have sufficient notice to update their pay systems. It will also be necessary to have extensive secondary legislation and guidance in place. This work is estimated to take around 18 months following Royal Assent.
BEIS officials are discussing with HMRC and payroll providers whether it is possible to reduce this timeline.
Asked by: Luke Hall (Conservative - Thornbury and Yate)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department has taken to prepare the Government systems that administer statutory payments in advance of the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Bill receiving Royal Assent.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Minister without Portfolio
The Government is committed to implementing Neonatal Care Leave and Pay as soon as possible. To deliver this entitlement, it will be necessary to make changes to HMRC systems and for employers and payroll providers to have sufficient notice to update their pay systems. It will also be necessary to have extensive secondary legislation and guidance in place. This work is estimated to take around 18 months following Royal Assent.
BEIS officials are discussing with HMRC and payroll providers whether it is possible to reduce this timeline.
Asked by: Luke Hall (Conservative - Thornbury and Yate)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will have discussions with HMRC about developing a payment mechanism for the introduction of neonatal leave and pay; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Paul Scully
The Government is committed to taking forward neonatal leave and pay when parliamentary time allows. Payment systems for new leave entitlements are large-scale projects which require considerable investment. Officials from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and HMRC are already engaged in discussions regarding the development of the necessary system.
Asked by: Luke Hall (Conservative - Thornbury and Yate)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure the introduction of the Employment Bill.
Answered by Paul Scully
The Government is committed to introducing new employment measures as we seek to build a high skilled, high productivity, high wage economy that delivers on our ambition to make the UK the best place in the world to work and grow a business. We have recently concluded a consultation containing proposals to reform flexible working regulations (https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/making-flexible-working-the-default) and have published a Government response to a consultation regarding the establishment of a single enforcement body for employment rights (https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/good-work-plan-establishing-a-new-single-enforcement-body-for-employment-rights).
We will bring forward reforms to our employment framework when Parliamentary time allows it. In the meantime, we will continue to take necessary action to support businesses and protect jobs.