Maternity, paternity, fostering, and adoption leave and pay policies at the UK Statistics Authority

FOI reference: FOI-2026-3755

You asked

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I would like to request copies of your current policies, guidance or documents relating to maternity, paternity, fostering and adoption leave and pay for employees.

Specifically, I would like copies of any policies or guidance setting out:

1. Maternity leave and pay, including eligibility, entitlement, duration of leave, rates of pay and any enhanced contractual maternity pay.

2. Paternity leave and pay, including eligibility, entitlement, duration of leave, rates of pay and any enhanced contractual paternity pay.

3. Fostering leave and pay, including any leave or pay available to employees who foster a child, including eligibility, entitlement, duration of leave and rates of pay.

4. Adoption leave and pay, including eligibility, entitlement, duration of leave, rates of pay and any enhanced contractual adoption pay.

Where the information is contained within a wider employment policy or document, I would be grateful if you could provide the relevant document in full.

We said

Thank you for your request. 

Please find the relevant policy extract matching each point of your request in response to this request. 

Please also see the associated downloads containing the Family Leave Framework:  

• Maternity Leave 

• Paternity Leave 

• Adoption Leave 

Information with regards to Fostering to adopt can be found in the Maternity Policy. Please refer to page 8.  

Information relating to maternity, paternity, adoption and other family leave provisions is available to UK Statistics Authority employees via the internal staff intranet (Reggie) within the Family Leave section: Family leave intranet page. We have also supplied our Family_Leave_Framework as an associated download for reference. As these documents are held on the Authority's internal intranet and are not publicly available on an external website. 

Personal data has been redacted from the disclosed policies under s.40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).

Maternity leave and pay, including eligibility, entitlement, duration of leave, rates of pay and any enhanced contractual maternity pay - extract from policy: 

Eligibility  

The maternity policy applies to eligible employees of the UK Statistics Authority. Employees should refer to the policy for detailed eligibility requirements for both statutory and departmental maternity pay.  

Leave entitlement  

• Up to 52 weeks' maternity leave.  

• Comprised of:   

• 26 weeks Ordinary Maternity Leave (OML).  

• 26 weeks Additional Maternity Leave (AML).  

Pay entitlement - Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP)  

• First 6 weeks at 90% of average weekly earnings.  

• Followed by 33 weeks at the statutory SMP rate.  

Enhanced contractual maternity pay (Departmental Maternity Pay) Eligible employees may receive:  

• 26 weeks at full pay.  

• 13 weeks at the SMP rate.  

Additional provisions  

The framework also includes guidance on:  

• Antenatal appointments.  

• Keeping in Touch (KIT) days.  

• Breastfeeding support.  

• Return to work arrangements.  

Paternity leave and pay, including eligibility, entitlement, duration of leave, rates of pay and any enhanced contractual paternity pay - extract from policy: 

Eligibility  

Paternity leave is available to employees following the birth or adoption of a child, subject to the eligibility and notification requirements set out in the policy.  

Leave entitlement  

• Statutory entitlement of 2 weeks' paid paternity leave, available from day one of employment.  

• Employees with more than one year's continuous service are entitled to an additional week of paid departmental paternity leave.  

Duration of leave  

• Up to 3 weeks' paid paternity leave for eligible employees.  

• Leave must be taken within the timeframes set out in the policy.  

Pay entitlement - Statutory Paternity Pay  

• Available in accordance with statutory requirements.  

Enhanced contractual paternity pay  

• Eligible employees with over one year's service receive an additional week of paid departmental paternity leave, giving a total entitlement of 3 weeks' paid leave.  

Fostering leave and pay, including any leave or pay available to employees who foster a child, including eligibility, entitlement, duration of leave and rates of pay - extract from policy:

Eligibility  

The Authority does not have a separate fostering leave and pay policy.  

Employees who are fostering to adopt are covered by the adoption provisions contained within the Family Leave Framework. The Adoption Leave policy explicitly applies to employees who are adopting or fostering to adopt.  

Leave entitlement  

• There is no separate fostering leave entitlement identified within the policy documents reviewed.  

• Employees approved under a fostering-to-adopt arrangement may access Adoption Leave provisions.  

Pay entitlement  

• No separate fostering pay scheme was identified.  

• Employees fostering to adopt may be eligible for Adoption Pay in line with the Adoption Leave provisions.  

Enhanced contractual pay  

No standalone enhanced fostering pay provision was identified in the documents reviewed.  

Adoption leave and pay, including eligibility, entitlement, duration of leave, rates of pay and any enhanced contractual adoption pay - extract from policy:

Eligibility  

The adoption policy applies to employees who are:  

• Adopting a child.  

• Fostering to adopt a child.  

Eligibility criteria for statutory and departmental adoption pay are set out in the policy.  

Leave entitlement  

• Up to 52 weeks' Adoption Leave. [Family leave | SharePoint]  

• Up to 5 days' paid leave to attend pre-adoption appointments.  

Pay entitlement - Statutory Adoption Pay (SAP)  

• First 6 weeks at 90% of pay.  

• Following 33 weeks at the statutory adoption pay rate.  

 Enhanced contractual adoption pay (Departmental Adoption Pay) Eligible employees may receive:  

• 26 weeks at full pay.  

• 13 weeks at SAP rate.  

• Additional provisions  

• The policy also provides for:  

• Up to 10 Keeping in Touch (KIT) days during adoption leave.  

• Annual leave accrual during adoption leave.  

• Pension arrangements during paid adoption leave.  

• Return to work protections following adoption leave.