HC Deb 17 April 2002 vol 383 cc966-7W
Mr. Bercow

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what estimate she has made of the(a) financial costs and (b) benefits to her Department of the Parental Leave Directive. [42486]

Ms Rosie Winterton

Staff in the Lord Chancellor's Department and agencies have always benefited from generous flexible working and leave arrangements, and have been able to take unpaid leave and career breaks with the agreement of local managers. We have incorporated the employer's obligations under the Parental Leave Directive in our flexible working policies, and staff are able to take up their entitlement under the directive. We keep no separate record of this and therefore have not recorded costs separately.