§ Miss Richardsonasked the right hon. Member for Middlesbrough, as representing the House of Commons Commission, how many women employed in each of the Departments of the House have applied for maternity leave in each of the past five years; and how many have subsequently returned to work in the House.
§ Mr. Arthur BottomleyThe information is as follows:
Year ending Department Number applied for maternity leave Number returned to work at House 31 December 1978 Clerk's 4 3 Library 1 1 31 December 1979 Clerk's 2 *1 31 December 1980 Clerk's 2 †2 Library 2 ‡2 Refreshment 2 ║1 31 December 1981 Clerk's 4 †4 Library 1 1 Refreshment 1 — 31 December 1982 Clerk's 1 1 Library 1 1 Official Report 1 1 Refreshment 1 — Notes: * Returned after 2 year absence † 1 returned on half-time basis ‡ 1 returned on temporary half-time basis ║ 1 returned on temporary part-time basis after 18 months Three members of the Clerk's Department in the third column have had two periods of maternity leave in the years 1978 and 1981, 1978 and 1981, and 1978 and 1982, respectively.