To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many staff took paternity leave from his Department and its predecessors in each of the last five years; and what the average length of such leave has been. (290564)

The information is as follows:

1. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills was created on 5 June 2009, with the merger of BERR and DIUS.

2. The former Departments did not keep a central record of how many staff took paternity leave. Paternity leave is dealt with locally by line managers in accordance with the departmental policies. The information can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

3. Paid paternity leave for former BERR staff is two weeks and for former DIUS staff is three weeks.