Business of the House

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 11:11 am on 10 October 2024.

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Photo of Mark Ferguson Mark Ferguson Labour, Gateshead Central and Whickham 11:11, 10 October 2024

I must declare an interest before asking my question: before serving in this place, I am proud to have served as a national officer for Unison, the biggest trade union and, by membership, the biggest organisation for women in the country. As such, I am particularly pleased to see the measures dealing with maternity rights in the Employment Rights Bill presented today. It is estimated that more than 4,000 women who were dismissed last year will benefit from the provisions in the Bill. The Conservative party has pushed through to the final two of its leadership contest—whether or not it intended to do so—a candidate who believes that maternity pay has gone too far.

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