Extending Maternity and Paternity Leave for Parents of Premature Babies
- Submitted by: Alison Johnstone, Lothian, Scottish Green Party.
- Date lodged: Friday, 09 December 2016
- Motion reference: S5M-03029
- Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, 21 December 2016
That the Parliament notes the campaign, The Smallest Things, which is calling on the UK Government to extend maternity and paternity leave and statutory maternity pay for parents of babies who are born prematurely; understands that, according to research by Bliss, there are an estimated 5,800 babies born every year in Scotland who require specialist neonatal hospital care; further understands that this extended period of care can have a serious impact on the health, wellbeing and financial security of the families concerned, including those in Lothian, and notes the introduction of the Maternity and Paternity Leave (Premature Birth) Bill in the House of Commons, which is a private member's bill that seeks to extend leave in these circumstances.
Supported by:
Jackie Baillie, John Finnie, Kenneth Gibson, Ross Greer, Patrick Harvie, Clare Haughey, Bill Kidd, Richard Lyle, Fulton MacGregor, Ruth Maguire, Gillian Martin, John Mason, Ivan McKee, Gil Paterson, Mark Ruskell, Maree Todd, David Torrance, Andy Wightman