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<p>My Department have no plans to introduce paternity allowance for self-employed
fathers.</p><p> </p><p>Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) and Maternity Allowance (MA)
are paid to women to replace earnings to help them take time off work before and after
their baby is born, in the interests of their health and wellbeing.</p><p> </p><p>Statutory
family related leave entitlements focus on employees as they have less flexibility
and autonomy over the work they do and when they take time off work.</p><p> </p><p>The
Government agrees with the principle of equalising parental benefits for the employed
and self-employed. But as set out in the Government Response to the Taylor Review
of Modern Working Practices, it is right to only consider making changes to this area
once we have carefully considered this in the wider context of tax, benefits and rights
over the longer term.</p>
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