Whitehall family policies

Policies being developed in Whitehall include:

• Plans to send children's reports to fathers who live elsewhere.
• There are plans for new government run website for fathers to mirror mums.net,  the online community for mothers.
  The Department of Health is looking at ways hospitals can make it possible for fathers to stay the night after their partner has given birth.
• Activities at children centres will target fathers specifically.
• A new version of the baby handbook traditionally given to new mothers is to be published with the slogan 'Because they don't come with instructions'
• A campaign to get employers to allow more fathers to work flexibly.
• A drive to get all fathers to read to their children.
• Training for all professionals who work with children on how to communicate with dads as well as mums.
• To promote childcare services to black and ethnic minority fathers.

Current and proposed Government paternity leave arrangements include:

• Two weeks’ statutory paternity leave paid at a flat rate of up £123.06 per week
• A proposal that by 2011 fathers will be able to take another six months’ paternity – three months at the statutory rate of pay and three months’ unpaid – as long as the mother gives up six months of maternity leave.