§ Ms KellyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what his estimate is of the cost to the Exchequer of the introduction of two weeks' statutory paternity pay at 90 per cent. of earnings replacement value, assuming full take-up. [83804]
§ Mr. BayleyAround 390,000 men would receive an average payment of £930 with a cost to the Exchequer of £360 million. This assumes entitlement conditions for statutory paternity pay would reflect those for statutory maternity pay. This would require a man to have been with his current employer for at least 26 weeks and have earnings at or above the lower earnings limit for national insurance purposes.
Source:
Family Resources Survey 1997–98, uprated to 1999–2000 prices using March 1999 Treasury Economic Assumptions.