Daycare Trust Director, Colette Kelleher, said: "There is a strong business case for investing in childcare.

"With increasing numbers of mothers with young children returning to work, employers need an effective childcare infrastructure as much as roads and railways.

"No-one is suggesting employers should foot the entire bill for childcare in this country. But they have an important role to play and significant benefits to gain by developing childcare in the UK."

Stephanie Beer

Stephanie Beer of Familylife Solutions which runs helplines for working parents said: "Our research has shown that if there is a problem with childcare it can take an employee up to 16 hours to sort out. That is two working days.

"Most of that has to be done in employers time because you can't make the phonecalls to nurseries out of office hours."

The launch of the Government's national childcare strategy last week brought the issue to the top of the agenda and put pressure on employers to respond.

Strong business case

But in a tough business world many firms are facing their own pressures.

Dianah Worman

Dianah Worman, of the Institute of Personnel and Development said: "I think there is a responsiblity on the part of employees as well. You cannot expect everything on a plate.

"The employer is there to be successful in a very difficult world. They can only provide things which meet their operational requirements."

John Cridland of the CBI said: "I think many employers help working parents through flexible hours but it is unrealistic for us to expect them to provide all that parents would like to see."

Among other results in the survey were:

• 81% agree the government should help employers implement such policies.
• 80% think the government should offer financial incentives, such as tax breaks.
• 88% do not think working mothers make less reliable staff members.
• 65% agree their company should do more to help working parents.
• 2% have reserved nursery places schemes.
• 3% have after school clubs for employees' children.