The Government has accepted Imelda Walsh's recommendation to extend the right to request flexible working to parents with children under the age of 16. 

This will extend the right to request flexible working to an extra 4.5 million parents.  Imelda Walsh, the HR Director of Sainsburys, was asked by the Government to undertake an independent review of whether the age of the child should be raised to 9, 11 or 16. 

The report also recommends that the change should be straight to age 16 and not implemented in stages.    The Government will now consult on the implementation of the proposals.