§ Helen JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the effect on women's employment of(a) more flexible hours and (b) better child care; and if she will make a statement. [178117]
§ Mr. SutcliffeFemale employment in the three months ending March 2004 was 13.043 million having risen by just over a 1 million since spring 1997 and by around 250,000 since spring 2002
It is extremely difficult to evaluate the effect of more flexible hours and better child care on women's employment, as there are many factors that influence the decisions that women make. We would generally expect 1226W that increased availability of flexible working and child care would increase women's participation in the labour market.
Both the DTI and the Department for Work and Pensions are conducting ongoing work in this area. The DTI is running a series of roundtables across the country so it can hear directly from parents, carers and employers, about their experiences and needs. A Citizens' Jury is also running which will bring a new perspective to the programme of work.