The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Maternity (APPGM) is a cross-party group of MPs and Peers with a common interest in maternity services.  We want to raise awareness around the importance of good maternity provision and the contribution maternity care can make to public health

History

The APPG on Maternity was established in November 2001 and launched at a reception on the House of Commons Terrace. Since the launch, we have held meetings around four times per year, that are usually open to individuals and those from outside organisations with an interest in maternity services. We have also hosted receptions to bring together politicians and those who work and use our maternity services.

Membership

The group is attended by MPs from all parties and all four countries of the UK. With the devolution of power since 1997, health and maternity care was one of the issues devolved to governments in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The APPG on Maternity is a Westminster-based Group, which primarily discusses developments in maternity services in England. However, many of our meetings address issues in maternity services (such as breastfeeding), which have relevance to all the countries of the UK.

The group receives expert advice on maternity matters from the Maternity Care Working Party (MCWP), which is in turn made up various stakeholder organisations.

About the All-Party Groups

All-party groups (APPGs) are unofficial groups within the Houses of Parliament and have a membership of backbench Members of the House of Commons and Peers. They cover a range of subjects, which are generally of interest to Members from all parties and vary in size and the activity they are involved in. It allows Members to work constructively with others from different political persuasions on an issue of common interest. Members have the opportunity to hold meetings and raise awareness of a particular subject and can exert pressure on Ministers who are often invited to attend meetings. They can be a good way for backbench MPs to ensure that those in decision-making roles are aware of particular subject issues.

APPGs sometimes hold inquiries to which Ministers and others can be invited to give their opinions on a subject of topical interest to Members, although these would not hold the sway of a Select Committee. They often are guided by one or more outside organisations with a particular interest in the subject.

Groups must be convened with 20 signatures from Members from both Houses and across the political parties at the beginning of a new Parliamentary term (following a general election). They then elect officers to steer the running of the Group and must hold an annual general meeting to confirm or validate officers’ positions.