The minister responsible for promoting shared parental leave has admitted he will not be able to benefit from the policy.
Business Minister Andrew Griffiths, who is due to become a father in mid-April, said he was not allowed to share parental leave with his wife.
Mr Griffiths was taking part in a radio interview about the rights available to parents to share their time off after the birth of a baby.
They can take time off separately or they can be at home together for up to six months.
But Mr Griffiths said: “Ministers are not allowed to take shared parental leave.”
He told The Emma Barnett Show on BBC Radio 5 Live: “It’s because I’m an office holder rather than an employee. Ministers aren’t allowed to.
“But I think I am going to be the first-ever minister responsible for maternity and paternity to take their full allocation of paternity.
“I’ve already told my office that I’m taking two weeks off.”
Minister for shared parental leave @AndrewGriffiths reveals to @EmmaBarnett that he’s not allowed to use his own policy.
The expectant father explained why cannot take up the scheme.#EmmaBarnettShow pic.twitter.com/vmbict158q
— BBC Radio 5 live (@bbc5live) February 12, 2018
Asked if the rules should be changed Mr Griffiths said: “I have to admit to you that it’s not even something that I had thought about. It’s not my priority.
“My priority is to focus on how we can deliver a policy that works for hundreds of thousands people.”
