To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate has he made of the number of people in (a) Hemel Hempstead constituency, (b) Dacorum and (c) Hertfordshire who took (i) paternity and (ii) maternity leave in the most recent period for which figures are available. (289413)

The most recent estimates of take-up of maternity leave are based on Maternity Rights and Mother’s Employment Decisions (published 2007). The survey is based on a random sample of mothers who had a baby between February and May 2006.

Of mothers in paid work, all took at least some of their entitlement to maternity leave.

Up-to-date estimates of fathers taking paternity leave are from the Maternity and Paternity Rights and Benefits in Britain: Survey of Parents, conducted in 2005. 93 per cent. of fathers took some time off around the time of the birth. Of the 93 per cent. who took some time off, 79 per cent. took paternity leave (The survey is based on a random sample of mothers who had a baby in December 2003 and their partners).

The Department does not collect data on take-up of maternity and paternity leave at constituency level.