Written Question·Department for Work and Pensions·UIN 60146

Parental Pay: Living Wage

Tabled: 16 June 2025
Answered: 24 June 2025

Question

Claire Hanna

Social Democratic & Labour PartyBelfast South and Mid Down

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what long-term plans her Department has to increase levels of (a) maternity, (b) paternity and (c) parental pay in line with the National Living Wage.

Answer

Andrew Western
Government spends approximately £3 billion a year on parental payments. When considering calls to increase the level of maternity benefits generally, those must be balanced against limited resources as well as being mindful of the burden on employers, the...

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