§ Mr. Cohenasked the Secretary of State for Wales how many employees in his Department in each year since 1979, have been allowed paternity leave under the rules set out in paragraphs 685–688 of the Civil Service pay and conditions of service code; and what was the average number of days allowed.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsThere is no provision for paternity leave as such in the Civil Service pay and conditions of service code, although there is provision for the granting of special leave with or without pay to an officer to deal with short-term domestic problems. Information as to the number of cases in which special leave may have been granted to male officers to deal with domestic problems arising from the birth of a child is not readily available and could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.