Removing the right to request flexible working

Words fail me.
WRITTEN MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

EDWARD DAVEY, PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS, CONSUMER AND POSTAL AFFAIRS; DEPARTMENT FOR BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS
18th MARCH 2011
RIGHT TO REQUEST FLEXIBLE WORKING – REPEAL OF EXTENSION TO PARENTS OF 17 YEAR-OLDS
I am announcing today that I intend to repeal shortly the regulations on extending the right to request flexible working to parents of 17 year olds that were laid before Parliament on 16th December 2010 and that were due to come into force on the 6th April 2011.
The Government remains committed to extending the right to request flexible working to all employees in due course. We will consult on this extension later in the Spring.
The Government is constantly listening to the views of all stakeholders including business, and it has recently become clear that this small extension to the flexible working regulations could be an unhelpful complication at this important point in the UK’s economic recovery when employers need to focus on growth and creating jobs. We therefore intend to repeal these regulations, which will also avoid multiple changes to the flexible working regulations over the coming years.