A Bill to amend the definition of still-birth to apply from 20 weeks into a pregnancy; and for connected purposes.
House of Lords
30 April 2026
May contain errors — check source documents for definitive information.
The Still-Birth (Definition) Bill would lower the threshold for what counts as a stillbirth from 24 weeks to 20 weeks of pregnancy in England and Wales and would align the eligibility rules for maternity allowance and statutory maternity pay with this 20‑week limit. It would take effect two months after the Act becomes law. The bill is currently in the Lords, Committee stage, where there has been discussion around Clause 1 and some Lords have signalled opposition to keeping Clause 1 in the bill; background discussions also cover possible coroners’ powers to investigate stillbirths and related issues that the government is still considering.
The Bill is in Committee of the Whole House stage in the Lords after the 2nd reading. Amendments reported in papers mainly involve procedural opposition to Clause 1 standing part, with one mover withdrawing and another indicating opposition; no substantive amendments changing the core threshold have been detailed in available papers. Government discussions on coroners’ investigations into stillbirths are noted as ongoing background work.
Generated 21 February 2026
14 Oct 2024
4 Jul 2025
Showing agreed, defeated, and withdrawn amendments.
The 2024-26 session of Parliament has prorogued and this bill will make no further progress.
This is the running list of amendments for the Still-Birth (Definition) Bill [HL], up to 21 October 2025. It records Baroness Watkins of Tavistock’s intention to oppose including Clause 1 in the Bill. The excerpt does not show specific amendments, only the procedural notice and the marking that amendments may be new or altered.
This is the Lords’ running list of amendments for the Still-Birth (Definition) Bill [HL] in Committee of the Whole House, up to 15 September 2025. It records amendments tabled (new or altered items marked with a star), but the excerpt highlights only Baroness Thornton’s notice of opposition to the Question that Clause 1 stand part of the Bill. In short, no specific amendments are detailed here beyond that procedural opposition to Clause 1.
Baroness Wheeler replies to Baroness Bottomley about Part 2 of the Civil Partnership, Marriages and Deaths (Registration etc) Act 2019 and the idea of giving coroners powers to investigate stillbirths. She notes a 2019 consultation and a 2023 summary, and says the Government is still considering the issues with the Ministry of Justice and will set out its position in due course. She adds that the independent investigation into NHS maternity and neonatal care may influence the overall landscape, with its terms of reference to be announced soon and final conclusions reflecting any relevant recommendations.
The Still-Birth (Definition) Bill would lower the gestational threshold for defining a still-born child from 24 weeks to 20 weeks in the Births and Deaths Registration Acts, and would align the definition of ‘confinement’ for maternity allowance and statutory maternity pay with this 20-week threshold. It applies to England and Wales only and would come into force two months after the Act is passed.
No recorded votes for this bill yet.
