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Work and Families Bill

My Lords, the amendment moved by the noble Baroness, Lady Walmsley, seeks to make it easier for fathers to take the leave to which they already have an entitlement. I agree wholeheartedly with her comments about the importance of fathers, particularly in those early stages of a baby’s life. On Report, I said:"““One of our concerns about the right to existing paternity leave is its rigidity””." On that occasion, I also said:"““Legislation should not be so prescriptive that it does not provide flexibility when it is desired and agreed between employers and employees””. [Official Report, 25/4/06; col. 126-7.]" As such, I very much support what the noble Baroness, Lady Walmsley, is trying to achieve. However, I do understand that, given the range of additional entitlements that this Bill already confers on employees, there will be an extra burden on employers. At this late stage, perhaps that is just too much to ask. However, when the Government are consulting and taking all the time commented on by my noble friend Lady Miller, perhaps they will consult on the flexibility of ordinary paternity leave so that where the leave is agreed between employer and employee, there can then be more flexibility in the time taken.