To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff took paternity leave from his Department in each of the last five years and what the average length of such leave was. (290601)

In each of the five years to 2008-09, staff working at HM Treasury have been entitled to take up to two weeks paid paternity leave on the birth or adoption of a child. Prior to the start of 2009-10, HM Treasury did not record instances of staff paternity leave centrally; the information requested could therefore be provided only at disproportionate cost.