Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether paternity leave is available for male members of the Armed Forces if his spouse is (a) a serving member of the Armed Forces and (b) a civilian.

The Ministry of Defence's policy on paternity leave is set out in Joint Service Publication (JSP) 760, Chapter 26: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/775654/JSP_760_Part_1_Issue_37_Jan_2019.pdf

Service personnel are not entitled under law to statutory paternity leave, however, provision for paternity leave equating to the statutory arrangements is made by the Armed Forces Occupational Paternity Leave Scheme (AFOPLS). The occupation of a Service person's spouse has no bearing on eligibility for AFOPLS and the scheme is available to personnel irrespective of whether their spouse or partner is either serving in the Armed Forces or a civilian.