Parliamentary Search

Written question asked by Lord Austin of Dudley (Labour) on Wednesday, 10 October 2018, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 15 October 2018 (named day). It was answered by Justin Tomlinson (Conservative) on Monday, 15 October 2018 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Parental Pay: Self-employed

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the (a) financial and (b) psychological effect on self-employed people of being unable to access statutory maternity and paternity leave pay.

Answer

The Department has not conducted any analysis of the psychological or financial impacts on self-employed people who are ineligible for statutory family related leave and pay entitlements.

Maternity Allowance (MA) is paid to eligible self-employed and employed women who are not entitled to Statutory Maternity Pay. Statutory family related leave entitlements focus on employees as they have less flexibility and autonomy over the work they do and when they take time off work.

The Government agrees with the principle of equalising parental benefits for the employed and self-employed. But as set out in the Government Response to the Taylor Review of Modern Working Practices, it is right to only consider making changes to this area once we have carefully considered this in the wider context of tax, benefits and rights over the longer term.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
177643
Session
2017-19
Subjects
Maternity pay Self-employed Paternity pay
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk