Work and Families Bill

The Bill is important and I welcome the rights that it extends to working families, particularly the rights that relate to the clause, concerning maternity, paternity and adoption pay. However, there is a downside to the Bill, as other hon. Members have pointed out—the extra burden of administration that it will place on employers, especially the owners of small businesses. I shall quote from a document that I am sure the Minister is familiar with, the 2005 Labour party manifesto. It states on page 77:"““We will therefore increase paid maternity leave to nine months from 2007—worth an extra £1,400—with the goal of achieving a year’s paid leave by the end of the Parliament while simplifying the system for employers.””"