Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment she has made of the potential merits of flexible working arrangements for parents in employment.

The Government published its Post Implementation Review of the 2014 Flexible Working Regulations[1] in September 2021. The review concluded that the Regulations were having a positive impact and highlighted numerous benefits for working parents, including how reduced working hours are associated with lower chronic stress for parents with young children.

Better supporting parents to return and remain in work is one of the reasons why the Government is supporting the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Bill[2] and has committed to make the right to request flexible working a day one right.

[1] Post Implementation Review – 2014 Flexible Working Regulations https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2014/1398/resources

[2] Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Bill

https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3198