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Benefits Uprating

In his opening remarks, the Minister said that he wanted to reduce prejudice in employment. He also announced improvements in maternity benefit, which are welcome to pregnant women and new mums but less welcome to small employers whose firms employ only a handful of people. When the absent employee is a key worker such firms cannot afford to employ an additional person to take on their duties. Has the Minister considered how small firms can be helped so that the increase in maternity benefit does not have an adverse effect on potential employment?