A plan to pay grandparents to look after their grandchildren is to be examined by a new commission on the care of young children.

Former Social Security Secretary Harriet Harman, who is chairing the Childcare Commission, said the idea was a result of more people taking up part-time jobs.

The commission, which started work on Monday, will study how to provide support for families to balance home and work lives in the future.

Ms Harman said: "In days gone by the grandmother may well have been looking after a child while the mother goes out to work part time. Now, that grandmother is likely herself to be doing a part-time job.

"If the parents want the grandparents to play a part and sometimes pay them themselves, the question is can they afford to pay them and whether or not there is some help."

Ms Harman also said the commission would examine the length of paid maternity leave.

She said: "At the moment we just have 18 weeks' statutory maternity pay - so the state will pay the mother to stay off work but only for 18 weeks. I think we have to look again at that."

The commission, the first of its kind in Britain, will spend a year gathering evidence from parents, employers, politicians and children before drawing up a report.

'Rapid pace of change'

It is made up of 12 business leaders, politicians and specialists, and was set up by the children's charity the Kids Club Network. It will send its findings to the Department of Social Security.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Ms Harman added: "Public policy has failed to keep up with this rapid pace of change, leaving families to muddle on.

"What we want to do is raise a great national debate as to how we support families in a very changed world."

Demand for childcare has exploded in the last few decades, mainly because of the increasing numbers of women going out to work.

In 1973, only about 25% of women with school-age children had jobs - now almost 75% work.

The launch of the commission comes on the same day as reports that the government is to set up a statutory register of nanny agencies.

According to The Times newspaper, government inspectors will be able to ensure agencies carry out checks on prospective nannies and close down those which do not meet required standards.