New fathers in Britain could be given six months off work to care for their babies, Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt said.

New mothers in Britain are entitled to higher maternity pay for six months and six months' unpaid extra leave, bringing the total to a year.

Under Ms Hewitt's shake-up, fathers could take the second six months of unpaid leave off if their wives or partners want to return to work.

'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 told The Times newspaper.

'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,' she said.

The new proposal was condemned by one business leader.

'Major new parental leave arrangements came into force in April of 2003. Business is punch-drunk with regulation. Any extension would be distinctly premature,' the Confederation of British Industry's deputy director-general John Cridland told The Times.

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