Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that its policies do not discriminate against (a) new mothers and (b) pregnant women.

The Treasury carefully considers the equalities impacts of policies on individuals with protected characteristics, in line with both its legal obligations and its commitment to fairness and equality of opportunity.

Under the Equality Act 2010, pregnancy and maternity is one of a number of protected characteristics covered by the Public Sector Equality Duty which requires ministers and others to pay due regard to the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination.

Our policies support the Government’s ambition of creating a fairer and more equal society. For example, at the Autumn Budget, the Government announced £500m funding to transform start for life and family help services for parents and babies, and carers and children, including mothers during pregnancy and maternity, in half of the council areas across England.