Welsh families are stronger with Labour because family priorities are Labour's priorities, the Minister for Women has said. Harriet Harman joined Welsh women AMs, MPs and MEPs at Labour Party Conference to say Labour is the only party in Wales that can deliver for the aspirational modern family.

Among the moves currently being considered by Labour's Minister for Women to help strengthen and ease the pressure on modern families is:

• Extending the right to request flexible work to parents of older children
• Working on the best way to administer giving fathers a right to take up to 26 weeks additional paternity leave.

HARRIET HARMAN said:

"Families are stronger under Labour because Labour understands that families are the frameworks of our lives. They matter to us as individuals but also to our communities, to the economy, and to society as a whole.

"Labour has already built a strong foundation of support for families in Wales but we want to go even further. We want to make life easier for hard-working families; to help mothers and fathers balance their paid work and their home responsibilities, to ensure good-quality affordable childcare and support for carers Labour is the natural party for all families in Wales because family priorities are our priorities.''

Cardiff North MP JULIE MORGAN said:

"Labour is the true party of the family, in all its modern shapes and forms. We understand the changing pressures on Welsh families and we want to ensure that all families are given real choices about how they live their lives.

"Unlike the Tories - who continue to espouse narrow and outdated family models - Labour is the true centre-ground moderate party, committed to building a country that values and celebrates all families and all family life."

25/09/07

Notes

1. Labour in Wales has committed to:

o More and better childcare – better childcare for families across Wales, free part-time nursery care in Wales' poorest communities.

o More Children's Centres – providing more families the opportunity of wraparound childcare by establishing more integrated children's centres in every area of Wales o Tackling domestic violence – improved support for victims

o Safer public transport – improved lighting and security at train and bus stations across Wales

o Quicker treatment for cancer patients – Labour will cut waiting times for patients with suspected and diagnosed breast cancer.

2. Labour want to ensure that families:

o Have enough time and money to bring up their children in the way they want

o Have enough time and money to care for older and disabled relatives o Have proper support from good local services for both children and older people

3. Since 1997 Labour has:

o Extended paid maternity and adoption leave from 6 to 9 months

o Introduced paid paternity leave o Introduced the right to request flexible working for parents of children under 6-years-olds, disabled children under 18-years-old and adult carers.

o Introduced the Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit

o Opened more than 1,300 Sure Start Children's Centres

o Introduced free part-time early education for three and four year-olds

o Strengthened carers' rights and announced a New Deal for Carers, which includes an extra £25m for short-term breaks for carers in crisis or emergency situations in each councils; £3m towards the establishment of national helpline for carers; and £5m to support the development of an experts carers programme.