New mothers should be given more time with their babies before returning to work, the TUC says today.

In a response to the government's green paper on maternity leave and pay issued on Friday it claims new mothers do not think the current 18 weeks maternity leave is enough and that the government could afford an extra £1 billion to extend paid leave to 26 weeks.

It claims the more pay mothers keep during their time off, the greater the chance of them taking their full leave.A poll of new mothers for the report found 47 per cent would be very likely to take more leave if they could have 90 per cent of earnings for 12 weeks. Unsurprisingly, 73 per cent said they would take more maternity leave if they could have 90 per cent of their earnings for the full period.

General secretary John Monks said: "Giving new mothers 90 per cent of their salaries for six months would only cost the government an additional £1 billion a year, and given that the nation's finances are in such a healthy state, we think that's easily affordable. This should be a priority for the next government. Financial difficulties drive many mothers back to work far too early. This is not good for them, their babies or their employers.

"Any moves to give new mothers a better deal will no doubt be greeted with howls of dismay from employer lobbyists. Better maternity pay is not an additional 'red tape' burden on business, but a right that many sensible employers already offer their female staff. Let's give UK mothers the same financial security that new parents get throughout most of the rest of Europe."