Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department offers (a) paid time off work and (b) other support to employees who become kinship carers.

The department does not have a policy which explicitly covers paid time off for staff who become kinship carers, but there are other provisions which may be applicable depending on the individual circumstances. In addition to annual leave and flexitime (if eligible), the following is available:

• Staff are able to make two requests for flexible working in a 12-month period in order to reach the right work/life balance for them
• In addition to the statutory right to reasonable unpaid time off work to deal with an emergency involving a dependant, and the statutory right to five days unpaid leave for those with caring responsibilities, we offer:

o an additional five days’ off as paid leave for carers

o an additional five days’ off as paid leave for those with dependents

• Up to 18 weeks unpaid Parental Leave where the member of staff has acquired legal parental responsibility for the child
• Unpaid Special Leave and Career Breaks