§ Mr. ColmanTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the entitlement of coroners to maternity leave. [34894]
§ Beverley HughesI have been asked to reply.
As office holders, coroners have no entitlement to the statutory provisions for maternity leave, unless they are also employees. However, it is open to any coroner to negotiate contractual terms with the local authority who pays their salary, including in relation to maternity leave. The Department of Trade and Industry is currently undertaking a review of employment status in relation to statutory employment rights, and this is looking at certain groups excluded from employment rights legislation, including officeholders.