Rights to Maternity Leave Granted to Parents Through Surrogacy

The right to maternity leave in the UK will be extended to parents of children born through surrogacy, under proposed changes to rules on parental leave recently announced by the Government.

From 2015, when the changes are expected to come into force, surrogate parents will be eligible for statutory adoption pay and leave – and the new 'flexible' parental leave – so long as they meet the qualifying conditions, said the Government.

In its response to a consultation on modern workplaces, run by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills last year, the Government outlined its commitment to introducing flexible parental leave. Speaking on the matter, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said 'the problem comes down to a whole range of clapped-out rules and arrangements'.

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