CYP Now - Analysis: Legislation - Bills reveal Government priorities

The Queen's Speech yesterday was the first chance for the Government to show where its priorities lie in practice. With a number of Bills affecting children and their families expected, Ruth Smith reveals what the Government wants and the sector's concerns.

WORK AND FAMILIES BILL

The Government says the Work and Families Bill will help parents balance work and home, support family life, extend maternity leave and pay, and deliver greater flexibility and parental choice in childcare.

While welcoming proposals to extend paid maternity leave to nine months, campaign groups, including Barnardo's and the Daycare Trust, say maternity pay should be at least equal to the national minimum wage to tackle poverty.

The Bill is also expected to say that the first three months of maternity leave can be shared with the father.

But Working Families spokeswoman Maggy Meade-King says the right to request flexible working should be extended to all parents and carers.

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