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<p>The most recent official data on maternity leave is from the Maternity and Paternity
Rights Survey in 2009, which collected data from mothers of children born in 2008.
A previous survey in 2007 collected data for children born in 2006. There were policy
changes between these dates: in particular, up to 39 weeks’ Statutory Maternity Pay
were available in 2008 compared to 26 weeks in 2006. Findings from these two surveys
are summarised in the table below, showing the percentage of mothers who took 39 weeks
of maternity leave or more, out of a sample of mothers who had worked at some point
in the 12 months before birth. Although the question asked about maternity leave,
some responses appear to have included other forms of leave.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Duration
of Maternity Leave</p></td><td><p>39 weeks</p></td><td><p>40-51 weeks</p></td><td><p>52
weeks</p></td><td><p>53 weeks or<br> more</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2006</p></td><td><p>1%</p></td><td><p>10%</p></td><td><p>12%</p></td><td><p>4%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2008</p></td><td><p>20%</p></td><td><p>22%</p></td><td><p>17%</p></td><td><p>6%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>
</p><p>The Government will shortly commission a new survey, which will provide updated
information. Subject to the progress of data collection, we anticipate publishing
findings in Spring 2019.</p>
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