BEREAVEMENT LEAVE AND CONFLICT

Early day motion 594, tabled 13 January 2010 by Angela Smith (Labour). Signed by 44 members.

That this House acknowledges the bravery and the selflessness of UK Armed Forces personnel, who risk everything to defend the country and its values; feels great sadness and sympathy for the relatives of those who lose their lives in conflict; notes that there is a statutory right to bereavement leave but not on a paid basis; calls on the Government to introduce a legal right to paid bereavement leave for the close relatives of those who die in conflict; and further calls on the Government to issue guidance making it clear that these relatives should be given leave which reflects the very difficult and highly emotional nature of their loss.

Signatures by party: Labour 26, Liberal Democrat 11, DUP 2, Conservative 1, Independent 1, Plaid Cymru 1, Scottish National Party 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.