Written questions by Griffith.

Whether (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department have had discussions with representatives from the European Union on the Pan-Euro-Mediterranian Convention on Rules of Origin.

We welcome the positive, constructive tone from Commissioner Šefčovič last week on this issue. We are resetting the relationship with our European friends to tackle barriers to help drive investment and growth and are open to looking at PEM if that reflects business and partner sentiment, but at this time we do not currently have plans to join.

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the Pan-Euro-Mediterranian Convention on Rules of Origin.

We are always looking at ways to reduce barriers to trade – within our manifesto red lines – because we take a pragmatic view as to where the national interest lies. We are therefore open to looking at PEM if that reflects business and partner sentiment, but we do not currently have plans to join. Rules of origin is a complex area and there are many factors that influence how businesses experience using these rules, from the paperwork involved to the complexity of their own supply chains.

Pursuant to the answer of 20 January 2025 to Question 23923 on Nissan, if he will provide the schedule for the publication of ministerial transparency data on meetings.

Details of ministers’ meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK. Data for the period of July to September 2024 will be published shortly.

Whether his Department offers paternity leave to its staff from their first working day.

Paternity leave is offered from the first working day for employees. Those who have been employed for less than 26 weeks are entitled to one week, and those employed for more than 26 weeks continuously are entitled to two weeks. Those who have worked for another Government Department prior to their arrival at the Department may be eligible for two weeks paternity leave from their first working day.As with any changes to employment legislation, internal policies and processes will be updated as appropriate in preparation for when the Employment Rights Bill 2024 comes into effect.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department offers paternity leave to its staff from their first working day.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is committed to supporting its employees in balancing their work and family responsibilities. The FCDO offers paternity leave to all eligible staff, providing them with the flexibility to take time off to support their partners and care for their newborns from the very beginning of their employmentAs with any changes to employment legislation, internal policies and processes will be updated as appropriate in preparation for when the Employment Rights Bill 2024 comes into effect.

Whether her Department offers paternity leave to its staff from their first working day.

The Ministry of Justice does not offer employees paternity leave from their first day of employment. The Department’s policy on paternity leave aligns with statutory entitlements. To qualify for paternity leave, employees must have worked continuously for the Civil Service for at least 26 weeks up to the 'qualifying week'. The qualifying week is set out in the Paternity and Adoption Leave Regulations 2002 and is different depending on whether an employee is adopting, is the partner of a birth parent, or is having a child through surrogacy.As with any changes to employment legislation, internal policies and processes will be updated as appropriate in preparation for when the Employment Rights Bill 2024 comes into effect.

Whether her Department offers paternity leave to its staff from their first working day.

My Department is not an employer in its own right and the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) provides the Wales Office with employment services and HR policies, such as Paternity Leave. Some staff could qualify for statutory paternity leave on their first day of service because they already have qualifying service with another Civil Service organisation. As with any changes to employment legislation, internal policies and processes will be updated as appropriate in preparation for when the Employment Rights Bill 2024 comes into effect.

Whether his Department offers paternity leave to its staff from their first working day.

To be eligible for 2 weeks paid paternity leave in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, an employee must have worked continuously for the Civil Service for at least 26 weeks by the 15th week before the baby is due, or for at least 26 weeks up to the week their spouse, civil partner or partner was matched with a child for adoption. Employees who have already completed continuous service in another Civil Service organisation at the point of joining the Department could qualify for paternity leave on their first day of service. In addition to paternity leave, fathers, civil partners or partners have a statutory right to time off to attend up to two ante-natal or pre-adoption appointments from their first day of employment. As with any changes to employment legislation, internal policies and processes will be updated as appropriate in preparation for when the Employment Rights Bill comes into effect.

Whether her Department offers paternity leave to its staff from their first working day.

Yes, subject to certain eligibility criteria, including having at least 26 weeks’ continuous service ending with the ‘qualifying week’ as set out in the legislation; and continuing to work in the department from the qualifying week until the date the baby is born or is placed for adoption. Some Home Office employees could qualify from their first day of service because they already have qualifying service with another Civil Service organisation.As with any changes to employment legislation, internal policies and processes will be updated as appropriate in preparation for when the Employment Rights Bill 2024 comes into effect.

Whether her Department offers paternity leave to its staff from their first working day.

HMT staff must have worked continuously for the Civil Service for at least 26 weeks to be eligible for paternity leave. The Employment Rights Bill will remove this requirement and staff will be entitled to paternity leave from their first working day. HMT will implement this legislative change when it comes into force.

Whether his Department offers paternity leave to its staff from their first working day.

The Northern Ireland Office offers paternity leave to its staff from their first working day if the employee has worked continuously for the Civil Service for at least 26 weeks by the 15th week before their baby is due.To be eligible for occupational paternity pay, staff must be in paid service at the time the paternity leave starts and have completed at least one year’s paid service in the Civil Service at the expected week of childbirth (EWC).As with any changes to employment legislation, internal policies and processes will be updated as appropriate in preparation for when the Employment Rights Bill 2024 comes into effect.

Whether his Department offers paternity leave to its staff from their first working day.

To be eligible for statutory paternity leave, Cabinet Office policy currently requires employees to meet a series of qualifying conditions, including the requirement to have worked continuously for the Civil Service for at least 26 weeks by the 15th week before the date the baby is due.As with any changes to employment legislation, internal policies and processes will be updated as appropriate in line with the Government’s legislation on employment rights. .

Media and Sport, whether her Department offers paternity leave to its staff from their first working day.

DCMS offers paternity leave in line with legislation: to access statutory paternity leave and pay, an employee must have worked for their employer for at least 26 weeks up to the 15th week before their baby is due. However, some staff could qualify for statutory shared parental leave on their first day of service with a particular department, because they already have service with another department.To access DCMS’s occupational paternity leave and pay offer, an employee must have at least one year's continuous service in the Civil Service.As with any changes to employment legislation, internal policies and processes will be updated as appropriate in preparation for when the Employment Rights Bill 2024-25 comes into effect.

Innovation and Technology, whether his Department offers paternity leave to its staff from their first working day.

To be eligible for 3 weeks paid paternity leave in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, an employee must have worked continuously for the Civil Service for at least 26 weeks by the 15th week before the baby is due, or for at least 26 weeks up to the week their spouse, civil partner or partner was matched with a child for adoption. Employees who have already completed continuous service in another Civil Service organisation at the point of joining the Department could qualify for paternity leave on their first day of service. In addition to paternity leave, fathers, civil partners or partners have a statutory right to time off to attend up to two ante-natal or pre-adoption appointments from their first day of employment. As with any changes to employment legislation, internal policies and processes will be updated as appropriate in preparation for when the Employment Rights Bill 2024 comes into effect.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department offers paternity leave to its staff from their first working day.

Paternity Leave entitlement is based on 26 weeks of continuous service ending with the 15th week before the baby is due. Qualifying service includes employment with another civil service organisation.As with any changes to employment legislation, internal policies and processes will be updated as appropriate in preparation for when the Employment Rights Bill 2024 comes into effect.

Whether her Department offers paternity leave to its staff from their first working day.

The Attorney General’s Office receives shared HR services from the Government Legal Department (GLD) and the criteria for applying for paternity leave is that the individual must have worked for GLD for at least 26 continuous weeks or immediately prior to the 15th week before the baby’s due date (where there is a pregnancy) and for adoption, either by the end of the week they are matched with the child (UK adoptions) or the date the child enters the UK or when they want their pay to start (overseas adoptions).Some staff could qualify for statutory paternity leave on their first day of service with their department because they already have qualifying service with another Civil Service organisation.Under the Employment Rights Bill currently before Parliament, subject to Parliamentary approval paternity leave will become a day one right across the Civil Service.As with any changes to employment legislation, internal policies and processes will be updated as appropriate in preparation for when the Employment Rights Bill 2024 comes into effect.

Whether his Department offers paternity leave to its staff from their first working day.

The Scotland Office does not employ staff directly. All staff that join do so on an assignment, loan or secondment from other Government bodies, principally the Scottish Government and the Ministry of Justice, who remain the employers and determine the terms and conditions for their employees.As with any changes to employment legislation, internal policies and processes will be updated as appropriate in preparation for when the Employment Rights Bill 2024 comes into effect.

Whether his Department offers paternity leave to its staff from their first working day.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not offer paternity leave to employees as a day one right. To qualify for paternity leave, MOD Civilian staff must have completed 26 weeks of continuous service, extending into the 15th week before the baby is due. In addition, an individual’s average weekly earnings must be at or above the lower earnings limit for National Insurance purposes.

Whether her Department offers paternity leave to its staff from their first working day.

The Department for Work and Pensions does offer paternity leave to its staff from their first working day. As with any changes to employment legislation, internal policies and processes will be updated as appropriate in preparation for when the Employment Rights Bill 2024 comes into effect.

Whether her Department offers paternity leave to its staff from their first working day.

The Department for Transport follows the legislation on Statutory Ordinary Paternity/Partner Support Leave, which requires employees to have at least 26 weeks’ qualifying service to be entitled to such leave. The Department exceeds statutory requirements by providing full pay for such leave. As with any changes to employment legislation, internal policies and processes will be updated as appropriate in preparation for when the Employment Rights Bill 2024 comes into effect.