PART 2

FAMILY ABSENCE FOR MEMBERS OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES

Newborn absence
25
1
This section applies to a member of a local authority who satisfies prescribed conditions—
a
as to relationship with a newborn, or expected, child, and
b
as to relationship with the child’s mother.
2
The member is entitled to a period of absence (“newborn absence”) for the purpose of—
a
caring for the child, or
b
supporting the mother.
3
Regulations must include provision for determining—
a
the extent of a member’s entitlement to newborn absence in respect of a child;
b
when newborn absence may be taken.
4
Regulations must not provide for a period of newborn absence in respect of a child to exceed two weeks.
5
Regulations must require newborn absence to be taken before the end of a prescribed period.
6
That period must be a period of at least 56 days beginning with the date of the child’s birth.
7
Regulations may prescribe circumstances in which a member of a local authority, or the local authority, may—
a
bring a period of newborn absence to an end, or
b
cancel a period of newborn absence.
8
Regulations may—
a
(for the purpose of subsection (2)) prescribe things which are, or are not, to be taken as done for the purpose of caring for a child or supporting the child’s mother;
b
allow a member to choose, subject to prescribed restrictions, the date on which a period of newborn absence starts;
c
make provision excluding an entitlement to newborn absence in respect of a child where more than one child is born as a result of the same pregnancy;
d
make provision about how newborn absence may be taken.
9
Where more than one child is born as a result of the same pregnancy, the reference in subsection (6) to the date of the child’s birth is to be read as a reference to the date of birth of the first child born as a result of the pregnancy.
10
In this section—
- “newborn child” (“plentyn newydd-anedig”) includes a child stillborn after 24 weeks of pregnancy;
- “week” (“wythnos”) means any period of seven days.