Maternity, paternity and adoption pay to increase to £128.73 from April 2011

The Government has said that the standard rates of statutory maternity, paternity and adoption pay will increase from £124.88 to £128.73 per week from 3 April 2011. Statutory sick pay will also increase from £79.15 to £81.60 per week from 6 April 2011. 

• Statutory maternity, paternity and adoption and sick pay The XpertHR statutory rates section has details of the current and future statutory maternity, paternity, adoption and sick pay rates. 
• Social security benefit uprating (PDF format, 232K) Read details of the statutory maternity, paternity, adoption and sick pay announcement on the Department for Work and Pensions website. 

Also

Maternity leave: extension to 20 weeks rejected by EU ministers The Council of the European Union has rejected proposals to extend the minimum period of fully paid maternity leave to 20 weeks, which the European Parliament voted for in October 2010. 

Model documents: maternity rights, paternity rights and adoption rights The XpertHR policies and documents service has model contract clauses, policies, forms and letters on maternity, paternity and adoption leave and pay. 

Pay for employees not at work: the basics The XpertHR employment law manual has guidance on statutory maternity, paternity and adoption pay.