The government is supportive of all employees wanting to undertake volunteering opportunities including those carrying out training and duties as a police special constable. Departments have provision within their special leave policy to allow time off for volunteering. It is for individual departments to consider the amount of paid leave they are able to offer. All departments provide a minimum of 3 days.

In contrast to employees, self-employed adopters do not need a statutory entitlement to adoption leave as they are able to decide themselves how much time off work they take and when.

Local Authorities may make a payment equivalent to Maternity Allowance in cases where adopters do not qualify for family related statutory pay because they are self-employed. This payment is discretionary and means-tested to ensure that resources are targeted at those adopters who need it most and is part of a package of post-adoption support.

Since 2010, we have taken significant steps to equalise the state benefits provided to the employed and self-employed, including giving the self-employed access to the full rate of the new State Pension for the first time, (worth up to £1,800/year more).

We continue to keep all differences in treatment between self-employed and employed people under review.

The Home Office endorses the Employer Supported Policing (ESP) scheme and has been clear that by supporting staff to volunteer in policing, employers can help keep their communities safe and at the same time help their employees learn valuable skills.

It is for individual employers to consider whether they are able to offer paid leave for employees to access special constable training and undertake special constable duties. The Home Office allows up to ten days a year of paid special leave for Home Office employees to carry out special constable duties or training.

The Home Office endorses the Employer Supported Policing (ESP) scheme and has been clear that by supporting staff to volunteer in policing, employers can help keep their communities safe and at the same time help their employees learn valuable skills.

It is for individual employers to consider whether they are able to offer paid leave for employees to access special constable training and undertake special constable duties. The Home Office allows up to ten days a year of paid special leave for Home Office employees to carry out special constable duties or training.

The Government is keen to see greater corporate responsibility on the part of employers and to encourage the public sector, charities and businesses to consider their impact on society. Employer-supported volunteering can help to build stronger communities and a stronger economy, by helping charities and community groups to do more and by creating a more motivated and productive workforce. Many public sector organisations and businesses already run impressive volunteering programmes.

The Government is keen to see greater corporate responsibility on the part of employers and to encourage the public sector, charities and businesses to consider their impact on society. Employer-supported volunteering can help to build stronger communities and a stronger economy, by helping charities and community groups to do more and by creating a more motivated and productive workforce. Many public sector organisations and businesses already run impressive volunteering programmes.

The Government is committed to testing ambitious new approaches to career learning and training for people in work and returning to work, as announced in the Budget. More detailed proposals will be set out in due course.

Workers in the UK are entitled to a minimum of 28 days paid annual leave if they work full time and a proportionate amount if they work part time. Grandparents may also be able exercise the Right to Time Off for Dependents which allows employees to take a reasonable amount of time off work to deal with certain unexpected or sudden emergencies involving a dependant and to put care arrangements in place.

The Government is developing a new national Carers Strategy, which will consider the range of issues faced by people who provide unpaid care for a relative, friend or someone close to them.