Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of evidence from research on the extent to which working parents may wish to work more flexibly, but are deterred from making a formal flexible working request for fear of negative consequences; and what steps he plans to take to improve take-up of the right to request flexible working.

The paper referred to provides interim research results on potential pregnancy and maternity-related discrimination and disadvantage in the workplace. The research commissioned in 2014 by Government was jointly managed and funded by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, supported by the Government Equalities Office. This is the largest ever study of pregnancy and maternity-related discrimination conducted in Great Britain. Interim findings were published in July 2015 and can be found at: http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/publication/pregnancy-and-maternity-related-discrimination-and-disadvantage-first-findings-surveys-employers-and-0.

The final results, due to be published later this year, will inform the Government’s response.