There is growing support for a government review, recommending flexible hours for mothers with children aged 12 and under.

The review by Imelda Walsh, HR director of supermarket chain Sainsbury’s, calls for the current qualifying age limit for children to be doubled.

Sue Hewitt, women's development consultant at workplace development firm Milecastle Consultancy, said: “One of the things that holds women back is access to childcare. Having an opportunity to work more flexibly by law would really help a lot of women who are in the situation where they’re unable to make headway at work. It would also level the playing field in terms of recruitment. If there is a structure in place that supports them, where flexibility is the norm and not a special request, that will help everybody, not just women.”

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) also welcomed the review.

Mike Emmott, CIPD employee relations adviser, said: “We wholly support moves to extend the ‘right to request’ to more parents. But the government should be bolder still and extend the right to all workers. The danger with ever larger groups of people, entitled to request flexible working, and a smaller number not entitled to do so, is that divisions will grow up in the workplace.

“Many enlightened employers already allow employees to work flexibly regardless of their family status. An extension of the right to request to all workers would level the playing field, without compelling employers to offer flexible working where this is incompatible with business needs. Our research shows that it would also deliver improved employee engagement, and therefore contribute to boosting productivity and performance in the workplace.”