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The Westminster lensArchive · Written questions · 119 tabled · 119 answered

Written questions by Spencer.

Every parliamentary written question tabled by Patrick Spencer this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.

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Department:All (119)Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (38)Home Office (20)Department for Education (14)Department of Health and Social Care (11)Treasury (8)Department for Transport (8)Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (5)Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (4)Department for Work and Pensions (3)Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (3)Department for Business and Trade (2)Scotland Office (1)

Showing 1–2 of 2 · Department for Business and Trade

4 Dec 2025·Department for Business and Trade·Answered
Asked

When he will launch a consultation into giving employment protection and financial assistance to the parents of critically or terminally ill children.

Reply

The Department for Business and Trade recognises the heartbreaking situation faced by parents of seriously ill children. We will consult on a leave and pay entitlement for parents in this situation in 2026. Further detail is included in the terms of reference for the review of employment rights for unpaid carers, which was published on 19 November 2025. There are no plans to extend existing Neonatal Care Leave and Pay legislation to the parents of older children. This would be unsuitable, as it would require altering core principles of an act specifically designed around neonatal care and would risk impacting on the Act’s policy aims.

4 Dec 2025·Department for Business and Trade·Answered
Asked

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of extending neonatal care pay and leave to parents of all critically ill children under 16.

Reply

The Department for Business and Trade recognises the heartbreaking situation faced by parents of seriously ill children. We will consult on a leave and pay entitlement for parents in this situation in 2026. Further detail is included in the terms of reference for the review of employment rights for unpaid carers, which was published on 19 November 2025. There are no plans to extend existing Neonatal Care Leave and Pay legislation to the parents of older children. This would be unsuitable, as it would require altering core principles of an act specifically designed around neonatal care and would risk impacting on the Act’s policy aims.

Sources
SourceUK Parliament Members API
MethodQuestion and answer text as published. Question preamble (“To ask the…”) trimmed for readability; answers shown in full.