§ Mr. Cohenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. BrittanThe code paragraphs quoted deal with the granting of special leave for domestic distress. There is no provision in the code for paternity leave as such.
In certain circumstances, special leave for domestic distress may be granted to male staff under code paragraph 686(a) or (c) when serious complications have occurred in connection with a wife's confinement.
Central records of special leave in the Home Office do not identify the reasons for it. These are available only on personal files, and details could be extracted only at disproportionate cost.