Fulton MacGregor MSP has welcomed the announcement that the SNP plans to give new fathers 12 weeks paternity leave to be taken on a “use it or lose it” basis.
The promise, which will be part of the SNP’s General Election manifesto, is part of a package to enable parents to spend more time with their young children.
The plan will ultimately extend shared parental leave to 64 weeks, with the additional 12 weeks to be ring-fenced for the father in order to encourage take-up.
Commenting, Fulton MacGregor MSP for Coatbridge & Chryston said:
“I have campaigned for some time now for extension to paternity leave as research strongly indicates that where there is higher paternity leave, there are reported higher levels of gender equality.”
“As a father of two, I fully support these plans and know what a difference it will make across Scotland in conjunction with the SNP’s other policies to help young families. “
“There is plenty of research that suggests a link between longer paternity leave and greater involvement of fathers in the early lives of their children, but a minority take up their full entitlement.”
“We still have some way to go, especially in terms of societal expectations, but this SNP Government is clearly committed to tackling inequality”
Fulton MacGregor 