IT contractors will be able to receive more flexibility with their maternity and paternity leave under new government plans.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has announced that fathers will be able to receive additional absence with pay when their child is between six months and one year old and the mother wishes to return to work without using her entire allocation of time.

Pat McFadden, business minister, claimed that this would transform the help currently available to parents.

He stated: "The balance between work and family life has changed for the better in the past decade and these changes will give parents the chance to share their leave."

Mr McFadden added that this would give families a higher level of choice than they are currently able to enjoy.

Earlier this month, the minister stated that legislation guaranteeing agency workers new rights was currently before parliament and that this could potentially affect 1.3 million workers, including IT contractors.