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Paternity Leave and Paternity Pay: Take-up

Asked by Sarah HallLabour (Co-op)Department for Business and TradeTabled Answered 16 March 2026UIN 119585

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to increase uptake of statutory paternity leave and pay.

Answered by Kate Dearden

This Government is committed to strengthening rights for working parents. From April, Paternity Leave will become a day‑one right, removing qualifying periods that currently prevent 32,000 fathers a year from accessing it.

We also know that more can be done to support working parents. The ongoing Parental Leave and Pay Review is examining all parental leave entitlements, including Paternity Leave and Pay.

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