§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the cost to public funds of the Parental Leave Directive in(a) 1999–2000 and (b) the estimated cost in 2000–01. [136474]
§ Mr. Alan JohnsonIt is not possible to calculate the exact cost to public funds of public sector employees exercising this right since the Parental Leave Directive came into effect on 15 December 1999. As implemented, parental leave is unpaid and there is no statutory requirement to keep records.
The direct cost to the Department of printing and distributing information on the new right to employees and employers in general, and of operating a dedicated public inquiry point for employees and employers in the period immediately following its introduction, has been approximately £40,000.