The industry secretary has suggested new fathers could be given the right to six months unpaid leave.

Patricia Hewitt, who doubles as minister for women and equality, used an interview with the Times on Tuesday to say that both parents should be able to take time off work to care for their children.

The government has already increased maternity pay for women for the first six months of a child's life and offered the option of taking a further half year off work without pay.

But Hewitt argued many women may want to return to their jobs and leave their partner in charge of childcare before their baby is one.

"At the time we looked at extending maternity leave, there were many people arguing that the extra six months we have now added on to maternity leave should be made available to the father," she said.

"We decided at that time not to offer it to fathers. But I am in favour of fathers being able to play a very active role in the children's lives, and having leave specific to fathers can definitely help.

"I want to look at how to take this whole package forward, and six months off for fathers is one way of doing it, although there may be other ways."

The Cabinet member suggested earlier in the year that ministers had failed to recognise the value parents who wanted to stay at home.

However the CBI cautioned against any extra regulation.

"Major new parental leave arrangements came into force in April this year," deputy director general John Cridland said.

"Business is punch-drunk with regulation. Any extension would be distinctly premature."