Around 17,000 families in Scotland would benefit from an increase in paternity pay and leave, according to Labour.

Plans by the UK party would see new dads able to take four weeks off work to help look after a newborn, compared with the current two weeks.

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard released figures to mark Father's Day, claiming 17,000 families would benefit from their proposals.

He said: "The next UK Labour Government will deliver policies to transform the workplace and deliver better security and equality for working people in our fast changing economy.

"Fathers must have the right to spend more time with their newborn babies and support their families.

"Increasing paternity leave will lead to greater equality in the workplace.

"Our plan to double paternity leave from two to four weeks and increase paternity pay would benefit 17,000 families in Scotland.

"That's the real change Labour can deliver for working families in Scotland and across the UK."

A UK Government spokesman said: "This Government is supporting millions of parents to balance work and family life not just in the weeks after birth.

"That's why we launched a task force to promote awareness of flexible working patterns and are running a campaign to encourage couples to take up Shared Parental Leave and share childcare in their baby's first year."