Record numbers of fathers are staying home to care for their babies and children, according to new figures published by the Office for National Statistics.
The number of men opting for the life of a full time father has risen to 200,000 an increase of 83 per cent since records began in 1993.However, the number of full time mothers has dropped from 2.7 million to 2.1 million.
The shift in the traditional British family has come about partly because women are earning bigger salaries than their partners. 40 per cent of women who are in full time employment are now earning more than their partner. The number of working women is now more than 13.3 million and more than half of them, including those with young families, work full time.
New rules being planned by the Government which includes allowing fathers a half share of their partner's maternity leave, are aimed at encouraging even more fathers to spend more time with their young families.
May 2007
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