EXTENDING parental leave by three months due to coronavirus is to be discussed in Westminster after overwhelming feedback from families.
A petition calling for maternity pay to be extended has gathered more than 220,000 signatures so far, with parents arguing the time they have spent on leave has been hampered by the lockdown.
Campaigners say that the pandemic has seen the cancellation of vital support groups which are essential to new parents.
Their petition states: "In light of the recent outbreak and lock down, those on maternity leave should be given 3 extra months paid leave, at least.
"This time is for bonding and social engaging with other parents and babies through baby groups which are vital for development and now everything has been cancelled.
"These groups are vital for baby development, bonding and educating both babies and parents.
"Given that the government have closed down many areas of the community new parents and babies are confined to their homes with no social interaction which will ultimately impact on the development of children.
"We are calling on Boris Johnson and the government to extend paid maternity leave by an additional 3 months, at least to allow for this development and bonding to take place."
In Scotland, thousands of people have put their name to the document, with the largest percentage of signatories coming from Rutherglen and East Kilbride.
While some benefits are devolved to the Scottish Government, control over lenght and levels of maternity pay is still reserved to Westminster.
Now the parliamentary Petitions Committee with hold a virtual session on Thursday to question labour market minister Paul Scully on what more the government can do.
It come after Downing Street said there were "no plans" to extend pay for new mums in May, arguing that the "UK’s maternity leave offer is already amongst the most generous in the world".
Catherine McKinnell, who chairs the committee said the government's response to the petition has fallen "far short" of what the public is asking for.
She said: “The Petitions Committee is taking evidence this week from the Business Minister on the Government’s response to Coronavirus and the impact it is having on parents on parental leave.
“The Government’s response so far to the petition calling for maternity leave to be extended falls far short of what is needed, and we will pressing the Minister to go further to address petitioners’ concerns. Hearing personal stories from tens of thousands of people through our evidence sessions and online engagement has made it clear how difficult many people on parental and adoption leave are finding this crisis.
“My committee is determined to continue to investigate the impact COVID-19 is having on all communities.
"As Members of Parliament, we will continue to collect evidence, press for answers, and scrutinise the Government’s response on behalf of petitioners as our country continues to fight this pandemic.”
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