A Bill to make provision to equalise leave, pay and allowance arrangements for adoptive parents with those of parents whose children are born to them; to equalise eligibility for adoption leave and pay with that of maternity leave and pay; to equalise the rates of pay for the first six weeks of maternity leave and adoption leave; to equalise the entitlement to allowances for self-employed adopters and self-employed mothers; and for connected purposes
This bill aims to level the playing field between adoptive and birth parents by making adoptive parents’ leave, pay and allowances match those available to parents whose child is born to them. It would also align eligibility for adoption leave and pay with maternity leave and ensure the first six weeks’ pay rates for adoption leave are the same as for maternity leave, including equal treatment for self-employed adopters and self-employed mothers.
The bill is currently at the second reading in the House of Commons, having been introduced in the Commons and progressing through the early stages of the legislative process.
Generated 21 February 2026
No recorded votes for this bill yet.
