Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will make it her policy to provide self-employed parents who have a baby in neonatal care with statutory support equivalent to that provided to employed parents; and if she will make a statement.

The Government is committed to introducing Neonatal Care Leave and Pay as soon as possible.

In line with other leave and pay entitlements in the UK, the Government has prioritised ensuring that employed parents have access to Neonatal Care Leave and Pay. Those who are self-employed have greater flexibility to decide when they work and do not have the additional pressure of needing to seek an employer's permission in order to take time off to be with their baby.