Members' Business — S5M-03029 Alison Johnstone: Extending Maternity and Paternity Leave for Parents of Premature Babies

That the Parliament notes the campaign, The Smallest Things, which is calling on the UK Government to extend maternity and paternity leave and statutory maternity pay for parents of babies who are born prematurely; understands that, according to research by Bliss, there are an estimated 5,800 babies born every year in Scotland who require specialist neonatal hospital care; further understands that this extended period of care can have a serious impact on the health, wellbeing and financial security of the families concerned, including those in Lothian, and notes the introduction of the Maternity and Paternity Leave (Premature Birth) Bill in the House of Commons, which is a private member's bill that seeks to extend leave in these circumstances.