§ Malcolm BruceTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department has taken to help businesses administer the statutory paid paternity leave introduced on 6 April 2003; what targets have been set for this work; and what budget has been allocated. [176521]
§ Dawn PrimaroloThe Inland Revenue provide extensive assistance and support to employers operating the Statutory Paternity Pay scheme.
As well as paper guidance assistance is available for employers on the Revenue's internet site in a simple question and answer format.
The Revenue also send all employers a CD-ROM which contains guidance and other aids in easily navigable format.
The Revenue's, Business Support teams provide a free workshop for employers on SPP at locations across the UK. Assistance is also available on a one to one basis.
The Revenue's Employer's Helpline offers telephone assistance at hours to suit the employer.
The Inland Revenue are also working on the provision of an internet calculator for SPP.
The Inland Revenue do not set a budget or targets for assistance to employers which can be broken down between different employer obligations.
§ Malcolm BruceTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 10 May 2004,Official Report, column 150W, on statutory paternity pay, when the statistics will become available. [176441]
§ Dawn PrimaroloEmployers will notify the Inland Revenue of the numbers of employees who have received SPP in their annual returns for the 2003–04 tax year. Those returns were due on 19 May 2004, they are received over several months and the Inland Revenue will not have completed processing them until later in the year. Employers are not required to notify us of all requests for SPP, only of payments made.