§ Mrs. RocheTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what maternity and paternity entitlements are available to employees within his Department. [27288]
§ Mr. GoodladThe maternity and paternity entitlements available to FCO staff, as laid down in the FCO code of management, mirror those set out in leave chapters 3.1 and 5 of the civil service management code.
Female officers are provided with three months and one week's paid maternity leave for the period of continuous absence before and after confinement. They are also entitled to unpaid maternity leave, the amount of which is subject to the following restrictions:
- a) the total of paid and unpaid maternity leave must not exceed 52 weeks;
- b) unpaid maternity leave cannot be terminated earlier than 41 weeks from the actual date of confinement, except:
- (i) where rule a) prevents this;
- (ii) with the officer's consent.
Male officers, other than those on a temporary appointment of less than two years, are entitled to two days' paid paternity leave.