Two-week limit for paternity leave

Entitlement
to paternity leave will be limited to two weeks, Junior Trade and Industry
Minister Lord Sainsbury has confirmed.

The
Employment Bill, which extends the right to paid time-off to fathers and
adoptive parents for the first time, has laid down a minimum of two weeks
paternity leave. But, reports website Ananova, will now be limited to two
weeks.

Lord
Sainsbury said: "It’s our current intention that the maximum period of
paternity leave will be two weeks."

Lord
Sainsbury told peers that fathers increasingly wanted to play more of a role
during the crucial first weeks after a baby’s birth.

In
report stage debate on the Bill, he said about 450,000 new fathers each year
will have a basic right to time-off during the first few weeks following the
birth.

Tory
Lord Henley questioned the need for paternity leave, warning it put an extra
burden on business.

Lord
Sainsbury said Lord Henley was "out of touch with public opinion" on
the issue.

By Quentin Reade

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