Speeches by Jardine.

“How does it help morale and positivity among small businesses, which will be vital to economic growth, if some of them are going to see their salary bills double? An employer in my constituency—not quite a small business, but a medium-sized business—is facing crippling increases in the salary bill. How will it help gro…”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mrs Harris. This is something like the fifth debate on this subject that I have taken part in since I became an MP in 2017, and it is more than two years since I asked the then Leader of the House whether we could have a debate on it. During those two and a half years,…”

“I concur exactly with everything the hon. Member has said. It is a cause close to my own heart. In fact, I have a private Member’s Bill on this very subject due to be considered in July. Does he agree with me that this is something the Government should look at and help to happen, because it should not need legislation…”

“It is an honour to follow the hon. Member for Brent East (Dawn Butler). I also pay tribute to the hon. Member for Spen Valley (Kim Leadbeater). The spirit in which this debate has been conducted today is a tribute to her leadership on this issue. This debate has been harrowing for all of us. However, to us falls the re…”

“First, I thank the hon. Member for Rochdale (Paul Waugh) for raising the issue of epilepsy. It is particularly important to me, as many years ago, I woke up in hospital, having had a seizure in my sleep. I know how life-changing it can be. In October, as the Leader of the House may remember, I raised the issue of half …”

“People might suggest there might be an unintentional consequence of extending leave, that it would dissuade companies from, say, the GMB policy charter. It might have a counter effect.”

“Do you think the balance is shifting at all from businesses being completely unaware to being totally aware, and is it improving?”

“We have heard from women who have been affected that guidance on what mothers and fathers can expect at work is missing. They do not know what the guidance is. They also find that, even though employers might want to be supportive, they do not know what the guidance is either, so guidance for workplaces is also missing…”

“We like to think that we have moved away from that sort of culture, but you think it is still quite prevalent?”

“Munira and Vicki, how effective do you think Baby Loss Awareness Week has been in challenging the sort of taboos and stigma that we have talked about? Is it leading to a more supportive attitude in the workplace?”

“Thank you very much. Thank you for coming to join us today. The Government’s 2023 Pregnancy Loss Review showed that there was still a taboo, that loss of pregnancy was not spoken about much. The TUC and the NHS have also referred to this. Vicki and Jessica, to what extent do you think the taboos and stigma around misca…”

“Munira, what impact has the introduction of formal baby loss certificates had on challenging that taboo and stigma and, if you like, making it a more tangible thing to take to employers or to just break down the stigma?”

“I could not think of another one.”

“That is quite a startling figure, 80,000. Thank you very much. I apologise; I am going to have to leave the session for a bit. I did not want you to think I was just running out, but thank you very much for that.”

“Apologies for coming back in after you had started. Nicole, what is your view on extending eligibility for two-week statutory parental bereavement leave to employees affected?”

“Yes.”

“I wonder if there are any key points that each of you would like the Government to bear in mind, or that you have learned that could be important?”

“I welcome much of what the Secretary of State has said, and I am delighted that she has assured us that there will be discussions with the Scottish Government about plans for Scotland. Throughout the past two or three years, businesses in my constituency have told me that they are concerned that they cannot get people …”

“In the two weeks since the Budget, several GP practices in my constituency of Edinburgh West, including my own, have contacted me with their genuine fears that the impact of the changes to national insurance employer contributions will threaten their ability to continue to offer the public the same standard of health s…”

“Q1. If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 13 November.”