Initially intended for business with 250 or more employees, the ‘right to train’ regulations – under which employers have a statutory obligation to consider requests from staff for time off to train or study - were due to be extended to smaller businesses from next April.

Now, though, the government has launched a consultation to review that extention.

"Before we make any decisions about the future of the right to request time to train, it is important that we gauge views of the regulation and whether it is improving training opportunities for employees,” said John Hayes, Further Education Skills and Lifelong Learning Minister.

"We are interested in hearing views on the future of this right and its role in promoting training in the workplace, which I see as vital to our economic success. I have asked my officials to ensure that we get a broad range of views."

It was concerns over the cost to smaller businesses, and criticism by representative grous, that has prompted the review.

Adam Marshall, director of policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “We strongly believe that the time to train regulations should be scrapped in their entirety. The process obligations they impose on smaller businesses are inappropriate, costly, and potentially confusing when they are combined with other legal obligations.

“Regulations such as these also provide yet another route to employment tribunal, allowing disgruntled employees an opportunity to threaten legal action due to paperwork and bureaucracy.

“Scrapping these regulations would be a sign that the Coalition is living up to its promise to cut the burden of red tape. Another regulation planned for implementation in April 2011, Additional Paternity Leave, should also be postponed until the government has firmed up its own plans for parental leave reform."

The final decision will be taken by the Cabinet Office's Reducing Regulation Committee in September.