Mr Ruffley stated that the UK already has 'one of the best maternity rights regimes in Europe' and that the proposal to raise maternity pay even higher 'would be unaffordable for the British taxpayer and for small and medium-sized businesses.' Mr Ruffley's call to repatriate employment and social legislation back to the UK roused cheers from his colleagues as well as support from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Maria Miller MP to whom he asked the question. She described the measures as 'highly regressive' and said that the Governmentdid not support them.

Mr Ruffley: There is a Brussels-inspired proposal to hike maternity pay to full pay for the first 20 weeks at a cost of £2.5 billion, according to the British Chambers of Commerce, which would be unaffordable for the British taxpayer and for small and medium-sized businesses. Given that we already have one of the best maternity rights regimes in Europe, will the Secretary of State tell Brussels where to get off and begin to repatriate employment and social legislation back to this place?

Maria Miller: I share my hon. Friend's disappointment at the outcome of the first reading vote in the European Parliament. The measures that have been put forward are highly regressive and we do not support them. They would cost the UK at least £2.4 billion a year.