The Government looked at extending the right to parents of children agedsix and above when it was preparing the new Work and Families Bill, butdecided those caring for adults were a higher priority.
In its response to a consultation on the Bill, the Government said manyemployers already go beyond the law and offer flexible working toparents with older children. It also decided that plans for extendedschool hours and new childcare places meant there were support servicesavailable to parents.
The charity Working Families said it was "disappointed" but notsurprised, while 4Children urged the Government to reconsider itsposition on the Bill, which was published last week, as it passesthrough Parliament.
A Department of Trade and Industry spokeswoman said the law would becontinually reviewed. "If in the future there is evidence to suggestthat changing the scope of the law would help another group, such asparents of older children, we will be in a position to consider whoshould have the right to request," said the spokeswoman.
- See Analysis, p11.
