A MOTHER whose first baby was stillborn has welcomed a new bill to support bereaved parents.

Annika Dowson, from Helmsley, said she was pleased the Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Bill, which aims to create a legal entitlement of at least two weeks leave and pay for parents, cleared its final Commons hurdle with unanimous support.

It was brought forward by Ryedale MP Kevin Hollinrake in consultation with his Conservative colleague Will Quince, whose son was stillborn at full term in October 2014.

Annika said: “I’m really pleased to hear that the Bill has passed through the third stage and is now on its way to the House of Lords.

“I’d like to thank Kevin for listening, not only to his fellow MPs in Parliament, but also to those bereaved parents in his constituency who were willing to share their stories and experiences to help in this process.

“I am grateful to Kevin for all the work he has put into this Bill and he deserves recognition for this.

“I would also like to add my gratitude to Antoinette Sandbach, MP for Eddisbury, who, following her own sad experience, was instrumental in bringing the topic of child loss to Parliament’s attention.”

Mr Hollinrake said: “I’m delighted that my Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Bill has passed through the Report Stage and had its Third Reading in the House of Commons and is now on the way to the House of Lords.

“I am a father of four and cannot begin to imagine the heartbreak that losing a child must bring.

“Therefore, I am grateful to all my colleagues on both sides of the House who have contributed to helping me steer the Bill this far.

“I would like thank, in particular, those who have shared their own very tragic stories.

“These personal experiences have helped shape the Bill and test it, so that we can be sure it is fit for purpose.”