To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate his Department has made of the number of people able to (a) work from home and (b) participate in flexible working; and what steps the Government are taking to allow more people to do so. (154818)

The Department undertakes periodic surveys of flexible working, the most recent of which was the Third Work-Life Balance Employee Survey conducted in 2006. The research findings, published in March 2007, found that 90 per cent. of employees reported that at least one flexible working arrangement was available to them if they needed it—an increase from 85 per cent. in 2003. The survey also found that 23 per cent. of employees reported that working from home on a regular basis was available to them (an increase from 20 per cent. in 2003).

We are encouraging flexible working through the introduction of the right to request flexible working which was introduced in April 2003 for parents of young and disabled children. In April 2007 we extended this right to carers of adults. We also encourage flexible working through providing detailed guidance and promoting the benefits. The business.link.gov.uk website has a number of interactive tools. Both employers and employees can access the ACAS telephone helpline.