Anyone know if statutory maternity pay is going to be increased to 52 weeks?

[MummyToSteven]

Hi everyone. I'm sure I saw something to this effect in the papers recently - is it part of the election manifesto package - i.e. something that may take place at some specified future point, or is it something that is going to happen soon.

TIA

Maternity leave may become more flexible

"The Treasury is keen to quash any suggestion that its drive to get mothers into work has created a generation of antisocial infants who spend too many hours in daycare and not enough time with their parents. Doubling the length of paid maternity leave from six months to a year, and possibly making fathers eligible for it, would help to counter such suggestions. Alternatively, Mr Brown might simply give more help with childcare costs." From the Guardian....don't hold your breath....

right - had a feeling it was something as tenuous as that iyswim. my best friend is intending to ttc at new year, so just wanted to make sure there was nothing imminent that might affect her.

i saw something that said the earliest would be 2006...