The Principal Act is amended by the insertion of the following Part after Part II:

"Part IIA Requests for flexible working arrangements for caring purposes

13B. Right to request a flexible working arrangement for caring purposes

(1) The following may request a flexible working arrangement:

(a) an employee who is a relevant parent of a child and who is or will be providing care to that child for the purpose of providing care to that child;

(b) an employee who is or will be providing personal care or support to a person to whom this paragraph applies for the purpose of providing such care or support to that person.

(2) Subsection (1)(b) applies to a person who -

(a) is one of the following:

(i) a person of whom the employee is the relevant parent;

(ii) the spouse or civil partner of the employee;

(iii) the cohabitant of the employee;

(iv) a parent or grandparent of the employee;

(v) a brother or sister of the employee;

(vi) a person, other than one specified in any of subparagraphs (i) to (v), who resides in the same household as the employee,