Written question asked by Paul Burstow (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 3 January 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 10 January 2002. It was answered by Alan Johnson (Labour) on Thursday, 10 January 2002 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, what mechanism was used for measuring the uptake of parental leave in the last three years; and what was the (a) uptake of parental leave and (b) proportion of those eligible who took parental leave in the same period. - Inc figures and ref to "Work and Parents competitiveness and choice", published in December 2000, and the accompanying document "Work and Parents competitiveness and choice - Research and Analysis".

Answer: Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what mechanism was used for measuring the uptake of parental leave in the last three years; and what was the (a) uptake of parental leave and (b) proportion of those eligible who took parental leave in the same period. [25879] Alan Johnson: The Department commissioned a survey of working parents to inform the Government's review of maternity and parental leave. Initial results were published in the Green Paper "Work and Parents competitiveness and choice", published in December 2000, and in the accompanying document "Work and Parents competitiveness and choice--Research and Analysis". The survey found that, by autumn 2000, at least 3 per cent. of working parents had taken parental leave since December 1999. Questions on take-up of parental leave have recently been introduced in the Labour Force Survey. Results are expected later this year.

Secondary information