HC Deb 12 March 2001 vol 364 cc452-3W
Jackie Ballard

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how he will monitor the uptake of parental leave. [152849]

Mr. Alan Johnson

A survey of working parents conducted in June 2000 by my Department asked parents whether they had taken up parental leave since December 1999. Initial analysis of the results suggests that 3 per cent. of working parents who had babies born since 15 December 1999 had taken parental leave. A full report of the survey findings is being prepared for publication.

In addition, we are piloting the monitoring of uptake of parental leave in the next Labour Force Survey.

Jackie Ballard

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the extent to which the uptake of parental leave is influenced by an individual's level of income. [152848]

Mr. Alan Johnson

A survey of working parents conducted in June 2000 by my Department asked parents whether they had taken up parental leave since December 1999. For the great majority of cases, the survey collected information on household income rather than individual income. We are currently analysing this information, which should allow analysis of take-up levels of parental leave across household income bands and provide an indication of whether potential take-up of parental leave is influenced by income levels. A full report of the survey findings is being prepared for publication, but no detailed results are yet available.