Maternity pay is too low in the UK according to more than half of the respondents to a survey.

Onrec reports research by Incomes Data Services revealed 52 percent think women should receive more when they have a child.

The findings come despite three quarters of employers providing more than the statutory minimum pay, and rumours the government may be delaying plans to extend the amount of maternity pay received by employees.

Brendan Barber, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, did not welcome this news. He told Onrec: "Increasing maternity pay would not be a huge extra cost to business and would help companies recruit and retain highly skilled female employees."