Clause 1 - Paternity leave
Employment Bill
9:30 am
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge, Conservative)
I have not heard what I hoped would be a layman's guide to the complexity of the drafting, taking me through the steps by which the reference to the date of a child's birth could be construed to be the date of a child's stillbirth. However, someone has convinced the Minister that that is so. I have tried to construct that conclusion from the definition in the clause of newborn child, but it is a tortuous process. I was hoping that the Minister would throw more light on it. However, there is no difference of principle and the purpose of tabling the amendment was to draw the Minister's attention to the matter. I am sure that he will ensure that it applies properly in the circumstances we are discussing. I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.
Amendment, by leave, withdrawn