Relatives of soldiers killed while serving in Afghanistan and other conflicts should be given the right to paid bereavement leave, MPs have demanded.
Granting the right would recognise the "very difficult and highly emotional" loss of a loved one killed in war, Labour's Angela Smith said.
In a Commons motion backed by a cross-party group of MPs, Ms Smith (Sheffield Hillsborough) praised the "bravery and selflessness" of the Armed Forces "who risk everything to defend the country and its values".
She said she felt "great sadness and sympathy" for the relatives of those who lose their lives and called on ministers to bring in the legal right to receive paid time off.
She added: "There is a statutory right to bereavement leave but not on a paid basis.
"The Government should introduce a legal right to paid bereavement leave for the close relatives of those who die in conflict and...issue guidance making it clear that these relatives should be given leave which reflects the very difficult and highly emotional nature of their loss."
