FLEXIBLE WORKING RIGHTS FOR PARENTS

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.