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Department for Work and Pensions: Parental Leave

Asked by Dame Harriett BaldwinConservativeDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled Answered 28 January 2025UIN 25196

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether their Department offers its staff shared parental leave from their first working day.

Answered by Andrew Western

The Department for Work and Pensions applies the statutory eligibility criteria for shared parental leave, which includes the parent or parents we employ working for at least 26 weeks up to a relevant date. DWP does not offer its staff shared parental leave from their first working day, with the possible exception of existing civil servants who join DWP with continuous/linked service in another government department.

As with any changes to employment legislation, internal policies and processes will be updated as appropriate in preparation for when the Employment Rights Bill 2024 comes into effect.

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