Written question asked by Amanda Martin (Labour) on Friday, 11 September 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 15 September 2026. It was answered by Kate Dearden (Labour) on Monday, 21 September 2026 on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade.

Flexible Working: Women

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what steps the Government is taking to support women in the workplace with flexible working.

Answer: Through the Employment Rights Act 2025, the government is strengthening the flexible working framework. We are introducing a new requirement that employers must only reject requests where it is reasonable to do so and we will set out a statutory process employers must follow before rejecting a request. Together, these measures will encourage more meaningful discussions about whether flexibility can be accommodated. This will benefit women, particularly mothers, by giving them the chance to balance work alongside their family life and personal circumstances. The government intends to bring these measures into effect in Autumn 2027.

Secondary information