Employment: Females

(asked on 9th December 2020) - View Source

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what long term support he plans to make available to women who leave the workforce to (a) have children and (b) carry out other caring duties.


Answered by
Steve Barclay Portrait
Steve Barclay
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
This question was answered on 18th December 2020

The Government is committed to supporting women who want to leave to the workforce in order to carry out childcare or other caring duties. Women who take leave from work to look after children are entitled to up to 52 weeks of leave are available, 39 weeks of which are paid – this is the longest maternity leave among all the OECD countries.

In order to support mothers in the longer term, the Government provides significant support for parents to help with the costs of childcare. This includes 15 hours of free childcare for disadvantaged 2 year olds; 15 hours for all 3-4 year olds; and a further 15 hours free for eligible working parents of 3 and 4 year olds. Tax Free Childcare provides eligible working parents with support worth 20% of their childcare costs, up to a cap of £2000 per child aged under 12 per year (or £4000 per child aged under 17 per year for disabled children). Parents are also entitled to claim Child Benefit.

The Government recognises and is committed to supporting people who give up the opportunity of full-time employment in order to provide regular and substantial care through Carer’s Allowance. The rate of Carer’s Allowance was increased in early April as part of the annual uprating process. Carers may be able to receive other support from the benefit system, including through Universal Credit, which includes an additional amount for carers at the rate of £162.92 per monthly assessment period. Carers receiving Universal Credit may also benefit from the extra £1040 that has been added to the standard allowance in Universal Credit this financial year.

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