Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people were in receipt of (a) Statutory Maternity Pay, (b) Statutory Paternity Pay, (c) Statutory Adoption Pay and (d) Statutory Shared Parental Pay in the 2022-23 financial year.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Information provided by employers to HMRC show the number of individuals in receipt of Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP), Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP), Statutory Adoption Pay (SAP) and Statutory Shared Parental Pay (SShPP). This data provides a broad indication of take-up but does not include anyone taking unpaid leave. Data for the 2022-23 financial year is incomplete, and we therefore provide data for the 2021-22 financial year.
Table 1: Individuals in receipt of SMP, SPP, SAP, SShPP in 2021/22 (the latest year for which full year data is available)
| No. of individuals in receipt of parental pay in 2021/22 |
Statutory Maternity Pay | 636,000 |
Statutory Paternity Pay | 204,200 |
Statutory Adoption Pay | 4,600 |
Statutory Shared Parental Pay | 13,000 |
Notes
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Scott of Bybrook on 8 March (HL Deb col 793), where she stated that "the number of couples taking up shared parental leave and pay is increasing year on year; last year it was at 13,000", what was the total number of claimants of Statutory Shared Parental Pay in each year since 2015–16, broken down by gender.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Lainston - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Information provided by employers to HM Revenue and Customs show the number of individuals in receipt of Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP). This data provides a broad indication of Shared Parental Leave (SPL) take-up but does not include anyone taking unpaid Shared Parental Leave.
Table 1: Individuals in receipt of ShPP by gender, 2015/16 to 2021/22
Year (April to March) | No. of individuals in receipt of ShPP | ||
Women | Men | Total | |
2015-16 | 1,100 | 5,100 | 6,200 |
2016-17 | 1,600 | 7,100 | 8,600 |
2017-18 | 1,700 | 7,500 | 9,200 |
2018-19 | 2,200 | 8,500 | 10,700 |
2019-20 | 2,600 | 9,900 | 12,600 |
2020-21 | 2,600 | 8,600 | 11,200 |
2021-22 | 3,200 | 9,800 | 13,000 |
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Stedman-Scott on 8 March (HL Deb col 793), when they expect to publish (1) the report of the evaluation of the Shared Parental Leave and Pay scheme that they initiated in early 2018, and (2) the findings of the Parental Rights Study 2019.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Lainston - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Evaluating Shared Parental Leave and Pay is an important part of the policymaking process. As part of the evaluation, we commissioned surveys which asked about a range of parental leave and pay entitlements as well as about Shared Parental Leave specifically. We are currently considering this information and will publish our findings in due course.
In 2019 the Government consulted on high-level options for reforming parental leave and pay. We are currently considering responses to the consultation and will respond in due course.
Asked by: Angela Rayner (Labour - Ashton-under-Lyne)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many people took up unpaid parental leave between 1 January and 31 December 2022.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department does not hold data on the number of people who have taken unpaid parental leave between January and December 2022. Findings from the Fourth Work-Life Balance Employee Survey (2012) indicate that 11% of employee parents with children aged under 6 took parental leave in the previous 12 months, available here - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/work-life-balance-survey-number-4
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to create a strategy outlining how her Department plans to ensure that all parents who require childcare are able to access those facilities.
Answered by Claire Coutinho - Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
The Spring Budget 2023 announced the largest ever investment in childcare in England. The measures that were announced will be transformative for parents, children and the economy.
The department is committed to improving the cost, choice, and availability of childcare. Government-funded schemes are designed to be flexible enough to support the different situations families face, including parents who are night workers.
We are closing the gap between parental leave ending and the current childcare offer for working parents, and ensuring all parents of primary-aged children can access wraparound childcare in school.
The government will also increase support for those parents on Universal Credit who face the highest childcare costs, often because they are working longer hours, by increasing the Universal Credit childcare cost maximum amount and providing support with childcare costs upfront rather than arrears.
By 2027/28, government funding on free hours and early education will be in excess of £8 billion a year. This will help working families with their childcare costs, meaning thousands of parents, including night workers, will benefit from government funded support.
The department will invest £204 million in 2023/24 to uplift the rates for existing entitlements, rising to £288 million in 2024/25, with further uplifts beyond this so that providers have the funding they need to deliver childcare entitlements.
The department is also launching a new national wraparound childcare pilot scheme. We will provide a total of £289 million in start-up funding to enable schools and local areas to test flexible ways of providing childcare.
We are continuing to take action to maintain choice and availability for parents by attracting more people to childminding, through a £7.2 million start up grant fund over the next two years.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she is taking steps to help ensure that childcare is not more expensive for parents who are night workers.
Answered by Claire Coutinho - Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
The Spring Budget 2023 announced the largest ever investment in childcare in England. The measures that were announced will be transformative for parents, children and the economy.
The department is committed to improving the cost, choice, and availability of childcare. Government-funded schemes are designed to be flexible enough to support the different situations families face, including parents who are night workers.
We are closing the gap between parental leave ending and the current childcare offer for working parents, and ensuring all parents of primary-aged children can access wraparound childcare in school.
The government will also increase support for those parents on Universal Credit who face the highest childcare costs, often because they are working longer hours, by increasing the Universal Credit childcare cost maximum amount and providing support with childcare costs upfront rather than arrears.
By 2027/28, government funding on free hours and early education will be in excess of £8 billion a year. This will help working families with their childcare costs, meaning thousands of parents, including night workers, will benefit from government funded support.
The department will invest £204 million in 2023/24 to uplift the rates for existing entitlements, rising to £288 million in 2024/25, with further uplifts beyond this so that providers have the funding they need to deliver childcare entitlements.
The department is also launching a new national wraparound childcare pilot scheme. We will provide a total of £289 million in start-up funding to enable schools and local areas to test flexible ways of providing childcare.
We are continuing to take action to maintain choice and availability for parents by attracting more people to childminding, through a £7.2 million start up grant fund over the next two years.
Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to deliver more affordable childcare for parents and carers of children in Portsmouth South constituency.
Answered by Claire Coutinho - Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
The department recognises that families and early years providers across the country are facing financial pressures. That is why we have spent more than £20 billion over the past five years to support families with the cost of childcare. Families across the country, including parents and carers in Portsmouth South constituency, are entitled to government support to help families with the cost of childcare.
The government has doubled the entitlement for working parents of 3 and 4 year olds to 30 hours and introduced 15 free hours a week for disadvantaged 2 year olds.
Working parents on Universal Credit may be eligible for help with up to 85% of their childcare costs through Universal Credit to support with the costs of childcare.
In July 2022, the department announced a package of measures to increase the choice and availability of childcare. This included taking action to open up the childminder market to support childminders and halt the decline in numbers, giving more parents access to affordable, flexible childcare. We also launched our Childcare Choices communications campaign to ensure every parent knows about the government funded support they are eligible for.
In the 2021 Spending Review, we announced additional funding for the early years entitlements of £160 million in 2022/23, £180 million in 2023/24 and £170 million in 2024/25, compared to the 2021/22 financial year. Improving the cost, choice and availability of childcare for working parents is important for this government.
For 2023/24, we will invest an additional £20 million into early years funding, on top of the additional £180 million for 2023/24. Taken together, this will help support providers at a national level with the additional National Living Wage costs associated with delivering the free childcare entitlements next year.
The 2023 Spring Budget announced that we are closing the gap between parental leave ending and the current childcare offer for working parents, and ensuring all parents of primary-aged children can access wraparound childcare in school.
This represents the largest ever investment in childcare in England and will be transformative for parents, children and the economy.
By 2027/28, the department will provide over £4.1 billion to fund 30 hours of free childcare per week, covering 38 weeks per year, for working parents which children aged nine months to three years old in England.
The department will invest £204 million in 2023/24 to uplift the rates for existing entitlements, rising to £288 million in 2024/25, with further uplifts beyond this so that providers have the funding they need to deliver childcare entitlements.
We are removing one of the largest barriers to working parents by increasing the amount of free childcare available. Childcare is a vital enabler for parents to work, which is why we are bringing forward a number of measures to support parents to return and stay in work. This new funding will empower parents, allowing them to progress in their careers and supporting their families.
We believe all parents should have access to childcare before and after the school day to help them work. That is why we are also launching a new national wraparound childcare pilot scheme.
We will provide a total of £289 million in start-up funding to enable schools and local areas to test flexible ways of providing childcare.
By 2027/28, this government expects to be spending in excess of £8 billion every year on free hours and early education, helping families with young children with their childcare costs.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she is taking steps to help ensure that adequate childcare is provided for parents who are night workers.
Answered by Claire Coutinho - Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
The government recognises the impact rising energy prices can have on businesses, the voluntary sector and public sector organisations of all sizes, including all early years settings. The energy regulator Ofgem and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero are in regular contact with business groups and suppliers to understand the challenges they face and to explore ways to protect consumers and businesses.
In September 2022, the government announced unprecedented support to protect households and businesses from high energy prices. The £18 billion Energy Bill Relief Scheme is supporting millions of businesses with rising energy costs, and my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer has made clear this will continue until June 2023.
From June 2023 to March 2024 the introduction of the Energy Bills Discount Scheme will provide non-domestic consumers, including early years and childcare providers, with a unit discount on gas and electricity costs. The new scheme will strike a balance between supporting businesses over the next 12 months and limiting taxpayer’s exposure to volatile energy markets. This financial support provides long term certainty for non-domestic consumers.
In the Spring Budget 2023, the Chancellor announced transformative reforms to childcare for parents, children and the economy. By 2027/28, the government will expect to be spending in excess of £8 billion a year on free hours and early education, helping working families with their childcare costs. This represents the largest ever investment in childcare in England.
The department is committed to improving the cost, choice, and availability of childcare and government funding schemes are designed to be flexible enough to support families’ different situations, including parents who are night workers.
The department is closing the gap between parental leave ending and the current childcare offer for working parents, and ensuring all parents of primary-aged children can access wraparound childcare in school.
We will invest £204 million in 2023/24 to uplift the rates for existing entitlements, rising to £288 million in 2024/25, with further uplifts beyond this so that providers have the funding they need to deliver childcare entitlements.
The department is continuing to take action to maintain choice and availability for parents by attracting more people to childminding, through a start-up grant fund of up to £7.2 million over the next two years.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to take steps with Cabinet colleagues to support childcare providers with energy costs.
Answered by Claire Coutinho - Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
The government recognises the impact rising energy prices can have on businesses, the voluntary sector and public sector organisations of all sizes, including all early years settings. The energy regulator Ofgem and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero are in regular contact with business groups and suppliers to understand the challenges they face and to explore ways to protect consumers and businesses.
In September 2022, the government announced unprecedented support to protect households and businesses from high energy prices. The £18 billion Energy Bill Relief Scheme is supporting millions of businesses with rising energy costs, and my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer has made clear this will continue until June 2023.
From June 2023 to March 2024 the introduction of the Energy Bills Discount Scheme will provide non-domestic consumers, including early years and childcare providers, with a unit discount on gas and electricity costs. The new scheme will strike a balance between supporting businesses over the next 12 months and limiting taxpayer’s exposure to volatile energy markets. This financial support provides long term certainty for non-domestic consumers.
In the Spring Budget 2023, the Chancellor announced transformative reforms to childcare for parents, children and the economy. By 2027/28, the government will expect to be spending in excess of £8 billion a year on free hours and early education, helping working families with their childcare costs. This represents the largest ever investment in childcare in England.
The department is committed to improving the cost, choice, and availability of childcare and government funding schemes are designed to be flexible enough to support families’ different situations, including parents who are night workers.
The department is closing the gap between parental leave ending and the current childcare offer for working parents, and ensuring all parents of primary-aged children can access wraparound childcare in school.
We will invest £204 million in 2023/24 to uplift the rates for existing entitlements, rising to £288 million in 2024/25, with further uplifts beyond this so that providers have the funding they need to deliver childcare entitlements.
The department is continuing to take action to maintain choice and availability for parents by attracting more people to childminding, through a start-up grant fund of up to £7.2 million over the next two years.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the impact of childcare costs on parents with children below primary school age.
Answered by Claire Coutinho - Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
The 2023 Spring Budget announced that the department is closing the gap between parental leave ending and the current childcare offer for working parents, ensuring all parents of primary-aged children can access wraparound childcare in school.
This announcement announced the largest ever investment in childcare in England. The measures that were announced will be transformative for parents, children and the economy.
By 2027/28, the department will provide over £4.1 billion to fund 30 hours of free childcare per week, covering 38 weeks per year, for working parents which children aged nine months to three years old in England.
The department will invest £204 million in 2023/24 to uplift the rates for existing entitlements, rising to £288 million in 2024/25, with further uplifts beyond this so that providers have the funding they need to deliver childcare entitlements.
We are removing one of the largest barriers to working parents by increasing the amount of free childcare available. Childcare is a vital enabler for parents to work, which is why we are bringing forward a number of measures to support parents to return and stay in work. This new funding will empower parents, allowing them to progress in their careers and supporting their families.
The department believes all parents should have access to childcare before and after the school day to help them work. That is why we are also launching a new national wraparound childcare pilot scheme.
We will provide a total of £289 million in start-up funding to enable schools and local areas to test flexible ways of providing wraparound childcare.
By 2027/28, government funding on free hours and early education will be in excess of £8 billion a year. This will help working families with their childcare cost.