(1)  The relevant Head of Agency may, subject to any Ministerial Direction, grant to an employee special leave of absence with pay –

(a) in the event of the serious illness of a relative of the employee; or

(b) in the case of other pressing necessity relating to the employee; or

(c) to enable the employee to participate in a sporting or cultural event at a national or international level.

(2)  In any sick leave year –

(a) an employee who was an employee before 1 July 1990 may not be granted more than 5 working days, in the aggregate, of special leave of absence under this regulation; and

(b) any other employee may not be granted more than 3 working days, in the aggregate, of such special leave.