Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of legislation protecting pregnant women from dismissal; and if she will take legislative steps to increase penalties on employers who dismiss staff while pregnant or on maternity leave.

The Government was pleased to support the Protection from Redundancy (Pregnancy and Family Leave) Act, which received Royal Assent on 24 May.

The ensuing regulations will provide additional redundancy protection from the point a woman tells her employer she is pregnant, through to 18 months after the child is born.

The Government continues to work with the Pregnancy and Maternity Discrimination Advisory Board to address these issues, and to improve the available guidance so women understand their rights and employers understand their responsibilities