§ Lord Monsonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether men who have fathered children by more than one woman in the course of a year are entitled to claim paid or unpaid paternity leave in respect of each child; and, if not, what mechanisms are in place to prevent such claims succeeding. [HL1591]
§ Lord Sainsbury of TurvilleTo be eligible for statutory paternity leave and statutory paternity pay (SPP), a father must have or expect to have responsibility for the upbringing of the child and be taking leave for the purpose of caring for the child or supporting the child's mother. To receive SPP, the father must supply a written declaration that he is the father of the child, or the mother's husband or partner, that he has or expects to have responsibility for the child's upbringing and that he is taking leave for the purpose of caring for the child or supporting the child's mother. An employer may also require this written declaration to support an application for paternity leave.
While there is no specific provision which prevents a man taking paternity leave where more than one child is born during the course of a year, the father would have to satisfy the qualifying conditions and provide a written declaration for each period of leave.