Letter: Paternity pains

If David Cameron believes the private sector can grow sufficiently to create jobs lost in public sector cuts, Nick Clegg's plans to offer fathers up to ten months paternity leave (your report, 17 January) will effectively end any chance of private sector growth.

Most of the growth in the economy comes from small and medium-sized businesses and professional practices. Large corporations may cope with the absence of a member of staff, but small businesses cannot. Indeed, even in large companies there are certain key roles that would be adversely affected.

I am reminded of a story told to me about a German dental practice. Originally it was run by a married couple, who were delighted when their only child followed them into the profession. When they retired, she took over the practice and recruited two women dentists to take the place of her parents.

Shortly afterwards, both the new dentists left on maternity leave, so her parents had to come out of retirement to keep the practice going. The money they earned was needed for the maternity leave of the two dentists.

David Wragg

Stoneyflatts

South Queensferry