Downing Street Says » Economy-Flexible Working

» Monday, October 20, 2008

Economy-Flexible Working

Asked repeatedly about the Government s position on flexible working, the Prime Minister s Spokesman (PMS) replied that the Government s position was clear; it was right that, at a time of uncertainty in the economy, the new Secretary of State for Business, Lord Mandelson, looked at all of the new regulations that were due to come in to force, right across the piece, to ensure that we were doing as much as possible to help small businesses. However, as Yvette Cooper had been saying this morning, we were also clear that we needed to do all we could to support families at this difficult time. It was entirely natural that the Secretary of State for Business, at a time like this, would want to look at all aspects of policy, but we were also clear that we supported families. As such, no decisions had yet been taken on any of this.

Asked if the Prime Minister agreed with Lord Mandelson s premise that flexible working would impose extra burden on small businesses, the PMS said that he was not aware that Lord Mandelson or anybody else had made any statements about any specific measures. Government were looking across the piece at what more we could do to help small businesses at this time. However, as we introduced new regulations, such as that relating to flexible working, we consciously designed it in a way that minimised the burden on small businesses.

Asked if it was still the Government s position that flexible working was a way of improving peoples prospects of getting work, the PMS said yes.

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