§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what paternity leave is allowed to staff in his Department; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CopeAt present paternity leave is not available to civil servants. The Treasury is, however, finalising arrangements for the introduction of an entitlement to two days' paid paternity leave for home civil servants. The Department of Finance and Personnel is also considering the implications of this for the Northern Ireland Civil Service.
Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office have made full use of the rules which at present exist for granting special leave and consider applications sympathetically.