Written questions by Hazelgrove.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of equalising paid time off entitlements for both adopters.

In the Plan to Make Work Pay the government committed to a Review of the parental leave system. The Review will provide us with an opportunity to consider the current framework of parental leave entitlements and how they should operate as a holistic system to improve the support available for working families. Planning work is already underway and I can confirm the review will look at Adoption Leave and Pay and Paternity Leave and Pay.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of (a) extending adoption leave to more than one parent and (b) introducing the equivalent of paternity leave for adoptive parents.

Employed adoptive parents have broadly the same rights and protections as birth parents. Paternity Leave and Pay already enables employed fathers and partners (including same sex partners) to take up to two weeks leave during the first year following thei...

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of support available to victims of sexual assault who need to take time off work to attend court and interviews related to the case.

Depending on the nature of the individual’s employment, victims of sexual assault may be able to access a range of leave entitlements allowing them to take time off from work when they need it. There is also practical support employers can offer which can...