New parents’ rights are postponed

The government has delayed its planned extension of maternity, adoption and paternity pay until 2010.

The new provisions would extend Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP), Maternity Allowance and Statutory Adoption Pay from 39 to 52 weeks, and introduce extra paternity leave and pay for fathers in cases where a mother returns to work without taking her full SMP.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has announced that it will now start planning for the new law to come into force for babies due on or after April 2010, but adds: “This should not be taken to imply any timing decisions have been taken.”