The jury is still out on whether having two working parents from early in life is bad for your children, but it's a fact that many mums and dads would like to spend more time with their youngsters. So new proposals to increase maternity and paternity leave will go down well with them.
Under the new rules, mothers would be given nine months' paid leave, the final three months of which they could transfer to their partner. Fathers would be entitled to up to six months off, which would be unpaid unless the mother transferred their three months' leave across.
The proposals have been broadly welcomed by parents' groups like Fathers Direct, although some have suggested the wealthy will be in a position where both parents can take the maximum time off.
Businesses are less happy. Despite the inclusion of measures to help employers, many think the bill will mean an extra administrative burden for small firms.
Do the government's proposals go far enough, or should all parents be entitled to longer paid leave to spend with their children? What do you reckon?
