This will benefit an estimated 60,000 new parents when it comes into force at the start of the new tax year on 6 April and will be a day one right for employees.

Neonatal care leave will apply to parents of babies who are admitted into neonatal care up to 28 days old and who have a continuous stay in hospital of seven full days or longer.

These measures will allow eligible parents to take up to 12 weeks of leave (and, if eligible, pay) on top of any other leave they may be entitled to, including maternity and paternity leave. This means that a mother whose baby is in neonatal care for 15 weeks will get her usual 52 weeks' maternity leave and then another 12 weeks immediately after.