Government plans to introduce shared maternity and paternity leave could be delayed until October 2015, according to a national newspaper.

Changes that would enable mothers and fathers to share maternity leave more flexibly were announced in last year’s Modern Workplaces consultation, which suggested bringing in the new rules by April 2015.

But a senior government source, quoted by the Telegraph newspaper on Friday has suggested that any introduction of new rules could be pushed back to October because of concerns about the impact on businesses

The new rules would entitled couples with a new baby to a total of 58 weeks of leave, with 22 weeks reserved for the mother, six reserved for the father and the remaining 30 weeks to be shared between the parents as they choose.

New parents could also decide to take their leave simultaneously and choose to request leave in blocks of any duration, although employers would also have the right to refuse.

However, this latest media report suggests that plans have been pushed back after a row among Cabinet colleagues over the impact on business.

A senior government source told the newspaper: “This is being introduced slowly and with great care to ensure that it does not undermine business during the difficult economic times.

“But it was a Coalition pledge and it is important to both the Prime Minister and the Liberal Democrats that both parents should be supported to spend time with their new children.”

The newspaper also reported that official government figures said that 420,000 families could benefit from the opportunity to move leave from one parent to other, allowing the main earner, if the mother, to transfer leave to her partner.

But alternative estimates from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (DBIS), shown to the home affairs sub-committee of the Cabinet in September, suggested a much lower figure of up to 13,500 families.

Finalised plans are expected to be announced later this month.

But a DBIS spokesperson said: "We do not comment on leaked documents. The government made a clear commitment for plans for flexible parental leave in the Coalition Agreement. We consulted on proposals last year and will respond shortly."

Commenting on the societal impacts of introducing flexible parental leave, Michelle Chance, employment partner at Kingsley Napley and co-founder of the Association of Professional Working Parents (APWP), said: "Issues that have traditionally been female only issues will now become parental issues such as the impact of an extended period of parental leave on career progression, pay and bonus, and we are likely to see more litigation from male employees in this area unless employers adapt their culture as well as their policies.

"Employers should embrace these changes as happy employees with a good work/life balance will be more loyal and productive which means more profit for employers, which is a win/win for both parties."