Allowing employers to asking women about having children, or how they will fit their career around their current children, would be unwelcome and counterproductive, according to Maggie Berry, managing director of IT job board and diversity recruiter Women in Technology.

Berry’s comments follow calls from Lord Sugar for the removal of legislation that restricts employers asking women about having children.

With incoming changes to maternity and paternity leave coming into force in England next month, allowing both parents to share time off to look after a child, the changes in legislation proposed by Lord Sugar would be irrelevant, says Berry.

 “I have no doubt that the archaic views made by Lord Sugar will never be implemented. However, his remarks only serve to dredge up the age-old discriminatory views held by some about women in the workplace and the affect children have on their career.”