Written question asked by Huw Edwards (Labour) on Tuesday, 21 November 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 29 November 2000. It was answered by Alan Johnson (Labour) on Wednesday, 29 November 2000 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will provide a breakdown of the take-up of parental leave by (a) gender and (b) occupation; and what is the average number of days leave taken broken down by (i) gender, (ii) occupation and (iii) earnings level since the introduction of the working time regulations. Information not available.

Answer: Mr. Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will provide a breakdown of the take-up of parental leave by (a) gender and (b) occupation; and what is the average number of days leave taken broken down by (i) gender, (ii) occupation and (iii) earnings level since the introduction of the working time regulations. [140254] Ms Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many parents (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) in Wales have taken statutory parental leave to date; and how many such parents were (i) women and (ii) men in (A) the United Kingdom and (B) Wales. [140373] Mr. Alan Johnson: [holding answer 27 November 2000]: We do not yet have specific evidence on the number of parents who have taken parental leave since the introduction of the Maternity and Parental Leave Regulations. Research undertaken for the forthcoming Green Paper, "Work and Parents: Competitiveness and Choice", indicates that approximately 3 per cent. of the eligible population have taken parental leave. We are not able to break this down by gender, income, region or occupation.

Secondary information