The government introduced the Children and Families Bill into Parliament on 4 February.
If passed, the legislation will implement the parental leave and flexible-working commitments made by the government in November 2012.
Under the new measures, working parents will be able to share parental leave following a child’s birth; prospective parents will be allowed to take more time off for antenatal appointments; leave and pay entitlements for adoptive parents will be aligned more closely with those available to birth parents; and the right to request flexible-working arrangements will be extended to all employees.