AN SNP MP has urged the Government to "get a grip" on changes to leave for parents who have sick babies. 

David Linden, MP for Glasgow East, said the current pledge to review the leave for parents who have premature babies was not good enough. 

He said there had to be urgent changes to help those struggling to support their child now.

Business minister Paul Scully told MPs that the Government is “committed to introducing statutory leave and pay for parents of babies requiring neonatal care”, and said it would bring forward a Bill on this when “parliamentary time allows”.

However Mr Linden criticised the timeframe, saying: "I am afraid that is not good enough. Every year 100,000 babies are born premature or sick, and then parents like myself then have to take the time off work to be with their child in hospital, perhaps as they are fighting for their life, so when will the Government get a grip on this issue?

“This is something they have committed to doing and parents of premature and sick babies all across these islands are desperate for action. Do we have to wait for an Employment Bill? Why is the Government taking so long?”

Mr Scully replied: “The Government is committed to ensuring that all workers can participate and progress in the labour market and that we build back better as we recover from Covid-19. We will bring forward the Employment Bill when the time is right.”