Trade and industry secretary Patricia Hewitt is to unveil new laws compelling employers to follow a formal consideration process when parents request more flexible working hours. An estimated 509,000 parents are expected to request more ‘child-friendly’ hours once the laws are implemented in April 2003, and ministers believe that 418,000 of those will have their requests accepted.

Employers will have the right to refuse a request on business grounds, however, and will only be obliged to show that they have followed the government’s guidelines.

Contrary to demands from some family groups, they will not be expected to prove a business case for refusing a parent’s request.

The new laws apply to families with children under six years old or a disabled child aged up to 18.