§ Mrs. Ann Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Energy how many female employees in his Department have been granted maternity leave in each year since 1974; and what was the total duration of such leave in each of those years.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerThe number of female staff currently employed in my Department who have been granted maternity leave since 1979 together with the total duration of such leave (paid and unpaid) is as follows:
Year Number Weeks 1979 3 88 1980 2 50 1981 4 122 1982 3 98 1983 7 235 Records for years before 1979 and for all staff who were granted maternity leave but have subsequently left my Department, are not readily available. The information requested in respect of these members of my staff cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate costs.