§ Mr. Cohenasked the Secretary of State for Energy how many employees in his Department, in each year since 1979, have been allowed paternity leave under the rules set out in paragraphs 685–688 of the civil Service pay and conditions of service code; and what was the average number of days allowed.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerNo provision is made in the Code for paternity leave as such. Special leave for domestic distress may be granted to male staff when serious complications have occurred in connection with a wife's confinement. The records kept by my Department of special leave granted for domestic distress do not readily identify the nature of the distress and details could be extracted only at disproportionate cost.