Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many employers contacted the Health and Safety Executive for advice on managing new and expectant mothers in each of the last five years; and what plans he has to review the effectiveness of current guidance for employers on managing health and safety for new and expectant mothers at work.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) started collecting information in March 2015 on the number of employers contacting its advice line about managing health and safety for new and expectant mothers. Data to date indicates that 13 employers have contacted HSE.

HSE reviewed and revised its website and other published guidance on managing new and expectant mothers’ health and safety in 2012. A further minor review was carried out in 2014. HSE also wrote to a number of Government departments and agencies, including devolved administrations, to request that their guidance on this topic be revised to ensure consistency. HSE also contributed to advice produced by Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) in 2013 on breastfeeding at work.

HSE is currently working with the Equality and Human Rights Commission to assess the findings of a major survey on pregnancy and maternity discrimination at work and any implications for the effectiveness of the Executive’s current guidance.