The Government is looking to extend the right of working parents to request time off work to those with older children.

At the moment, the right is restricted to parents with children under the age of six or under 18 if they are disabled.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown announcing the draft Queen's Speech in the House of Commons yesterday, said that flexible working was no obstacle to business success.

He also backed a proposal from the European Union to give temporary workers the same rates of pay, holiday entitlement and othe benefits as permanent employees.

Following a consultation on the flexible working proposals, the Prime Minister said he expected the changes to be in place by April next year.