§ 39. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister for the Civil Service to what extent industrial and other civil servants are engaged on overtime; and what action he is taking to reduce such overtime.
§ Mr. David HowellOvertime varies from Department to Department and according to the nature and volume of the work. Individual Departments and their local managements decide what overtime is necessary; they are under standing instructions to keep it to the minimum. A number of the productivity agreements now operating in the industrial Civil Service provide for a reduction in overtime.
§ Mr. LewisI thank the hon. Gentleman for that reply. Has not a committee recently been looking into the subject of overtime generally both in 64 industry and in the Civil Service? That being so, will not the Government take action to see that overtime is cut in the services for which they are responsible?
§ Mr. HowellThere has been the Prices and Incomes Board Report on overtime to which the hon. Gentleman, I think, is referring. We are watching very carefully the matter as it relates to the Civil Service. We are seeking to reduce overtime. In all Departments this is the view and the policy being followed.