Work and Families Bill

I support the amendment. The noble Baroness gave three reasons why the amendment is appropriate. I can add a fourth. It may not come as a surprise to the Minister, but a number of businesses, particularly small ones, have been in the practice of manipulating earnings and the timing of bonuses for people who are to claim maternity pay on the basis that a large amount will come back to the individual from the Government with minimal cost to the employer. It would be in the Government’s interest to take over the administration of the system for small businesses as that would result in it happening less often, but it certainly does happen. I would not be prepared to confess to having done it myself, because that would be entirely inappropriate, but I am well aware that it happens. To say that it is a scam is to use too strong a word, but it is certainly being done to maximise the return to the employee primarily at the cost of the Treasury. Therefore, I am delighted to support the noble Baroness on this amendment.