Commentary on Sections Part One: Statutory Leave and Pay Chapter One: Paternity and adoption leave and pay
7.In the 2001 General Election manifesto the Government made a commitment to “help parents devote more time to their children early in life”. The Government launched a review of maternity and parental rights in the early summer of 2000. The terms of reference of the review were to “consider the steps needed to make sure that parents have choices to help them balance the needs of their work and their children so that they may contribute fully to the competitiveness and productivity of the modern economy”. The review led to the publication of the Green Paper ‘Work and Parents: Competitiveness and Choice’ in December 2000. The consultation process initiated by the Green Paper closed in early March 2001. Following on from an announcement made by the Prime Minister in the light of the results of the Green Paper consultation, it was announced in the Chancellor’s Budget Statement on 7 March 2001 that extensions to maternity and parental rights would be provided. These included the introduction of a new right to two weeks’ paid paternity leave, and 26 weeks’ paid adoption leave. All the measures were to be implemented from 2003. Subsequently, the Government published three framework documents(1) taking forward the options for simplification of maternity leave, paternity leave and adoption leave. After the close of the consultation exercise that followed, the Government response to the consultation(2) was published.
8.Sections 1-16 make provision for new rights for paternity and adoption leave and pay. These include:
	Paternity leave following the birth of a child or the placement of a child for adoption. This will be for a period of up to two weeks.
	Adoption leave around the placement of a child for adoption. This will be for a period of up to one year.
	Statutory Paternity Pay for a period of up to two weeks.
	Statutory Adoption Pay for a period of up to 26 weeks.