Parents could have the legal right to work part time

Ministers are considering legal rights for parents to work part time, the ability to choose working hours and paid leave when children are ill.

Firms could be forced to undertake compulsory pay audits to reveal whether they are paying women less than men.

Constitutional affairs minister Harriet Harman is to unveil the plans before the Labour Party conference.

She told the Independent on Sunday that Labour intended to challenge Conservative leader David Cameron who has revealed his own family policies.

Family policy needs to be robust, not sentimental Harriet Harman

"We are really upping the stakes," she said. "We need to have a robust and rigorous approach to public policy on the family.

'Further progress'

"The question of what happens at home cannot be separated from the function of the economy. The Tories have been forced to accept Labour's agenda of maternity pay and leave.

"It is now essential for Labour to make further progress. The Tories are eager to talk about families but not prepared to take the action families need. Family policy needs to be robust, not sentimental.

"The choice for families will be between Tory sentiment and Labour action."

Ms Harman will give a speech on the proposals ahead of Labour's annual party conference in Manchester to the Fawcett Society which campaigns against unequal pay between men and women.

Mr Cameron told the National Family and Parenting Institute that working parents should be able to claim tax relief on childcare, the tax credit system should be simpler and pledged to help single parents as well as married couples.