Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what guidance the Government provides to employers on the provision of flexible hours for mothers returning to work.

Government provides a range of guidance on the provision of flexible hours, including for mothers returning to work. This includes guidance on the GOV.UK website covering what employers have to do, types of flexible working, the statutory application process and appeals. ACAS also provides advice and guidance.

As we said in response to the Women & Equalities Select Committee report on the gender pay gap, the Government recognises the need to increase communications activity around flexible working and will explore options for doing so.