§ Mr. Cohenasked the Secretary of State for Scotland 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. YoungerThe code paragraphs quoted deal with the granting of special leave for domestic distress. There256W 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.
Records of special leave for domestic distress do not readily identify its nature and details could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.