Jim Shannon

Jim Shannon

Democratic Unionist Party — Strangford

Speaking in the House of Commons on 20 October 2026

Debate

Kinship Carers: Statutory Paid Employment Leave

Contribution

In Northern Ireland, a record 4,287 children are in the care system. Some 83% of those are in foster care, and a large proportion are placed in kinship arrangements. Because there is no statutory paid leave, nearly 30% of local kinship carers have been forced to give up their jobs entirely, pushing families into financial hardship. Does the hon. Lady agree that we should be pressing the Minister to introduce a statutory right to paid leave for every kinship carer across the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?

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