§ Mrs. RocheTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what maternity and paternity entitlements are available to employees within his Department. [27279]
§ Mr. Ian TaylorIn addition to their statutory entitlements, permanent employees within DTI and its agencies with over year's service are entitled to enhanced levels of maternity leave up to a total of 52 weeks. They are also entitled to a period of 14 weeks' maternity leave at full pay, which includes statutory maternity pay, subject to returning to work for a month after maternity leave. Other entitlements for women include time off to attend ante natal appointments and the right to apply for a career break of up to five years to care for her child/children.
Fathers employed by DTI and its agencies are entitled to take two days paid paternity leave at the time of the birth or during the weeks following the birth of the child.
The Department's maternity and paternity entitlements and those of its agencies are based on the civil service management code.