APPG meeting notes

4 February 2026 – Motherhood Penalty and Gender Pay Gap

The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Flexible and Family Friendly Working held a roundtable to discuss the Motherhood Penalty and Gender Pay Gap. The session was hosted by Sarah Russell MP (Chair) and Baroness Penn (Co-Chair) with contributions from the ONS, Pregnant Then Screwed, Working Families, the Job Share Revolution, Cabinet Office, and leading employers.

Recent ONS analysis shows that five years after the birth of a first child, mothers’ earnings fall by an average of 42% – a long-lasting penalty with significant implications for families and the economy. Additionally, new research from Make Mothers Matter finds the UK an outlier in Europe, with mothers here more likely to say their careers have been negatively affected by motherhood.

Ahead of the introduction of voluntary Gender Pay Gap Action Plans for large employers in April, this session explored practical, evidence-based solutions,