9. Ms Brownlee asked the Assembly Commission to outline what work it will undertake to ensure there is a family-friendly working environment for people who work in Parliament Buildings. (AQO 673/22-27)

I thank the Member for her question. The Assembly Commission recognises the importance of a family-friendly working environment, as it contributes to a healthier, more engaged and productive workforce whilst enhancing the organisation’s reputation and competitiveness. The Assembly Commission also recognises, however, the particular challenges to providing a family-friendly working environment in a parliamentary institution where there is a need to be responsive to developments and it is not always possible to do so strictly within office hours.

The Assembly Commission has a number of policies that its employees can avail themselves of. The hybrid working policy offers staff the opportunity to work from home where possible, carefully balanced with the realities of business need and the importance of colleagues being together for strong team dynamics; the staff hours at work policy affords staff the opportunity to accrue additional time worked, which can be taken during recess or when business is quieter; and the special leave policy gives staff the statutory right to time off for care of dependants.

From a Member's perspective, the Assembly Commission’s remit relates solely to the provision of allowances to enable Members to exercise their functions as Members. The Assembly Commission has therefore agreed to provide additional support to a Member who is absent due to parental leave in order to carry out the constituency work that the Member would otherwise have undertaken. It is intended that that provision will be incorporated into a new determination that is to be considered by the Assembly Commission in September.

The Assembly Commission is also aware that there are likely to be issues related to Members' work in Parliament Buildings arising from periods of maternity or paternity leave, adoption leave or shared parental leave. There is limited provision for Members’ absences in Standing Orders when it comes to, for example, participating in debates or voting. Procedural matters are, in the first instance, for the Committee on Procedures. Such issues are not within the Assembly Commission's responsibilities. For instance, any proposal to allow a replacement Member to be put in place to cover a period of parental leave would require a change to the Northern Ireland Act 1998, which is outside the Assembly Commission's remit.

Does the Member need an additional minute for this answer?

Yes, if that is possible.

Of course.

Sorry, I should have indicated.

The Assembly Commission has no role in determining the salaries or pensions payable to Members. It should be noted, however, that a Member's salary is not reduced as a result of their deciding to take parental leave.

Members have previously asked about the provision of a childcare facility at the Stormont estate. Following enquiries by the Assembly Commission, the Department of Finance confirmed in September 2023 that it had no immediate plans for a childcare facility on the Stormont estate. The Assembly Commission has not considered the matter further since but remains open to exploring cooperation on such a project. Without other partners, however, the viability of the proposal is questionable.

I thank the Member for his response. Will he provide more detail on parental leave, especially for those who care for a child with a disability?

The Commission has looked at parental leave in detail. In the first instance, the Commission will bring forward maternity, paternity and adoption leave proposals, which, we think, would be easier and less complicated than parental leave. Following that, the Commission will do another piece of work on opportunities for general leave for Members, particularly those with parental responsibilities and, indeed, for sickness. We believe that that work will be slightly more complex and take longer. In the short term, we will go for the other proposals that I indicated.