FLEXIBLE WORKING RIGHTS FOR PARENTS

Early day motion 2796, tabled 18 October 2006 by Helen Goodman (Labour). Signed by 81 members.

That this House fully appreciates the valuable role performed by parents of all children aged under 18 years in the UK; recognises that many parents wish to work and need to do so to make ends meet in addition to providing support and care to their children; congratulates the Government on the extension of the right to request flexible work to carers from April 2007; encourages the Government to ensure that this right is extended to include all parents of children up to age 18 years; urges the Government to enable parents to combine flexible and fulfilling employment with their caring role, and to give employers the flexibility and productivity that they need from their staff; notes the 2003 statistics that 49 per cent. of businesses acknowledge that adaptability helps them to retain valued staff and that 30 per cent. of parents called for a more family friendly workplace; and further congratulates the Mothers' Union Flexible Families campaign for raising this issue.

Signatures by party: Labour 61, Liberal Democrat 14, Conservative 2, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, Independent 1, Plaid Cymru 1.