§ Mr. Cohenasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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. ButlerThere is no formal provision in the Northern Ireland Civil Service for the granting of paternity leave. If, at a time of confinement, there is a need for the father to have leave to deal with some unanticipated, but related, occurrence Departments can, at their discretion, grant special leave under the existing special leave arrangements. Statistical information on requests received in such circumstances is not available and could only be compiled at disproportionate cost.
Of the Home Civil Servants within the Northern Ireland Office, one officer was allowed five days' special leave in such circumstances under code paragraph 686 (c) during the period in question.