Conservative Party leader David Cameron has said he will extend the right to request flexible working arrangements to all parents if his party wins the next general election.

And if his party comes to power the government will offer more encouragement of employers to allow their staff to operate from home and at times that are more suited to their needs, Mr Cameron insisted.

Furthermore, the Tory leader has suggested that a shift towards more flexible working arrangements in the UK will make businesses increasingly competitive and strengthen the national economy.

"We will work with business, large and small, to make sure that the existing regulations are as simple and easy to implement as possible," said Mr Cameron.

"In government we will ensure that the public sector – Britain’s biggest employer – becomes a world leader in providing flexible working opportunities," he added.

Figures from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development have shown that allowing employees to work form home can give provide a useful tool for staff retention.