PATERNITY LEAVE

Early day motion 1712, tabled 17 October 2018 by Angela Crawley (Scottish National Party). Signed by 22 members.

That this House notes that fathers, partners of adopters and intended parents having children through surrogacy are entitled to one or two weeks' statutory paternity leave; believes that this disadvantages fathers and entrenches the presumption that women are primarily responsible for raising children; further notes that better paternity leave and pay has the potential to meet the Government's objective of supporting fathers to be at home around the time of their child's birth; further believes that the regulations require updating to meet the needs of the modern family in a changing workforce; understands that the objective of supporting fathers to share care cannot be met if paternity pay is set at a rate that only better-off fathers are able to take time off at the start of their child's life; acknowledges that some employers offer enhanced leave or pay, including the Scottish Government, which offers staff four weeks' paternity leave on full pay; and notes the view that families across the UK would benefit from such practices being adopted by other employers.

Signatures by party: Scottish National Party 18, Labour 3, DUP 1.