§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the(a)financial costs and (b)benefits to his Department of the Parental Leave Directive. [42475]
§ Angela EagleParental leave is available to all Home Office staff as one of a number of policies designed to help staff achieve their preferred balance between work and home. These include paid and unpaid maternity leave, paid paternity leave, career breaks, paid and unpaid special leave and a range of flexible and alternative working patterns. As an unpaid entitlement the costs of parental leave to the Department is minimal.
The Home Office is committed to helping staff balance their work and home life and as an employer recognises that work/life balance policies have significant business benefits including: improved recruitment and retention of staff; reduced absenteeism and a happier and therefore more productive work force.