Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of present Government guidance available to employers on managing the health and safety of new and expectant mothers at work.

The Health and Safety Executive (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 contributed to advice produced by 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.