The Government has published its response to the Women and Equalities Committee’s (WEC) report into paternity and shared parental leave.

We commented on the Committee’s report previously here. Among other things, it recommended an increase in paternity pay to match maternity pay in the first six weeks, extending paternity leave, reforming shared parental leave, and extending access to paid leave to so-called ‘kinship carers’.

Ordinarily, Government responses to such reports amount to extending gratitude to the relevant Committee for raising important questions, whilst tactfully finding various ways not to commit to anything. In this case, there is less need for tact, as the Government largely responds to the report by saying that almost all of the points that it raises are to be addressed in the wide-ranging review of parental leave and pay, the call for evidence for which was published earlier this year (and on which we commented upon here).

Commenting on its response to the committee’s report, the Government said, “in the Plan to Make Work Pay the Government committed to a Review of the parental leave system. This review launched on 1 July and will explore how the system can better support working families and reflect the realities of modern work and childcare, while still balancing the needs of businesses, and the Exchequer. The review presents a much-needed opportunity to consider our approach to the system of parental leave and pay. All current and upcoming parental leave and pay entitlements will be in scope.”

Whilst welcoming the review, the Chair of the WEC, Sarah Owen, expressed disappointment that the Government was not acting with the requisite urgency, given that it is expected that the review will take some 18 months to run its course and no commitments have been made for any changes in the interim.

To read the Government’s response in full, click here.