Steve Carter, managing director of finance and accounting recruiter Robert Half, has welcomed proposals to extend maternity and paternity rights.

Under the proposed Parental Rights Bill mentioned in the Queen’s Speech, mums get nine months’ paid maternity leave.

And fathers will have the option to take seven and a half months of the time currently allocated to maternity leave.

He said: “I think this is very appropriate, though businesses may not see it that way. If mum is the primary breadwinner, why not give the man the option to take the leave?” he said.

Firms adopting the flexible working agenda will be better at recruiting and retaining staff, he said.

He added: “If people are out longer on maternity it creates the opportunity for more temporary and contract staff. Firms generally are using variable-cost labour to augment permanent staff.”