Deputies should not bring babies into the municipal hall, despite calls from some politicians, a commission said.
The dispute over the rules began last year when Labor MP Stella Crisis had said from an official that she should not have taken her three-month-old son to a debate – even though she had brought her eldest daughter into the Chamber as a baby.
Other lawmakers, including former Liberal Democrat leader Joe Swinson, also brought their young children.
But President Sir Lindsay Hoyle referred the matter to the Municipal Procedures Committee for a final decision.
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The group of deputies published its conclusions on Thursday, saying that banning babies from the hall was “a long-standing practice of the Chamber” and its investigation came to the same conclusion.
“Members should not take babies with them to the hall, Westminster Hall or the general committees when they want to observe, initiate, speak or interfere with the procedures,” the committee said in a statement.
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MEPs did say that the presiding debate “should maintain a degree of de facto discretion” on the issue, but recommended that it be “exercised sparingly”.
And they called on the Liaison Committee to consider whether the same rules should be reflected in the procedures of selected committees.
The decision is likely to anger some lawmakers, who have expressed concerns that they may represent their constituents after birth because they are not entitled to maternity leave.
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0:51 “The policy is not for parents”
Speaking to Sky News when the scandal broke out, Ms. Crisis said her only breastfeeding option was to take her baby to work.
She received the support of members of the entire chamber, including Deputy Prime Minister Dominique Raab, who said that municipalities “need to make sure we are in the 21st century”.
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