Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what assessment her Department has made of the potential effect on the (a) well-being of pregnant women and (b) equality of the employment tribunal system of introducing a six-month time limit for employment tribunals involving pregnant women.

The Government recently consulted on whether the three-month time limit for bringing Equality Act claims to an Employment Tribunal is sufficient. Although this question formed part of the Government Equalities Office consultation on Sexual Harassment in the Workplace, it was not limited to this issue and invited views on time limits for all prohibited behaviours, across all protected characteristics, including pregnancy and maternity.

The consultation concluded in October 2019 and a Government response will be published in due course.