Parental Pay

(asked on 31st October 2022) - View Source

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government is taking to reduce the anticipated 18 months’ lead time that HMRC require, in order to implement paid neonatal leave following Royal Assent for the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Bill.


Answered by
Victoria Atkins Portrait
Victoria Atkins
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
This question was answered on 8th November 2022

The Government is committed to implementing entitlement to Neonatal Leave and Pay as soon as possible. HMRC cannot begin delivery until the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Bill has Royal Assent. Provisions in the Bill bring this new statutory payment within scope of HMRC’s legal functions, giving it the authority to incur costs.

HMRC will need to make changes to their IT systems for the administration, payment and reporting of Neonatal Pay, as well as supporting customers with a calculator, a new suite of online forms and updated guidance. HMRC also need to draw up and publish requirements for external developers, who will need to build Neonatal Leave and Pay into their payroll software products so that employers can administer Neonatal Leave and Pay through payroll. HMRC is working closely with BEIS to establish exact delivery timelines on the basis that Royal Assent is expected in Spring 2023.
Reticulating Splines