14th May 2007

MP WELCOMES NEW PATERNITY LEAVE PROPOSALS FOR DADS

A North Wales MP has welcomed new Government proposals Dads Set to Benefit from Additional Paternity Leave and Pay designed to give working parents more choice in their caring responsibilities.

MARTYN JONES MP (Clwyd South) was commenting following publication of a consultation document which sets out proposals on the administration of a scheme, that will give fathers the opportunity to choose to take up to 26 weeks additional paternity leave, to care for their child.

Commenting Martyn Jones said:

"The Government are committed to giving people greater flexibility to enable parents to 'juggle' their work and family life, and it recognises that fathers increasingly want to play a bigger part in bringing up their children."

"The main proposal is that, if a mother wants to return to work before her child's first birthday, the father will be able to take some, or all, of the second half of the child's first year as paid paternity leave.

"For the first time ever, this will give parents the flexibility to divide a period of paid leave between them. Parents will be able to decide how to best balance work and family commitments.

"These proposals are the next phase in the Government's plans to enable parents to strike the right balance during that all-important first year of their child's life."

The consultation process seeks views on how the administration of additional paternity leave and pay will work in practice.

The Government wants to keep the process as straightforward as possible for both employees and their employers.