HC Deb 04 December 1996 vol 286 cc1036-7
18. Mr. Burden

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what legislation he intends to bring forward to implement the working time directive. [5798]

Mr. John M. Taylor

My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade will issue a consultation document very shortly.

Mr. Burden

Surely it is disingenuous of the Government to continue to insist that this is not a health and safety issue when it has been well established that there is a link between being forced to work excessively long hours and employee ill health. Does the Minister accept that even those such as the Confederation of British Industry who are opposed to the working time directive are calling on the Government to bring in clear guidelines to get the measure implemented and on the road? The Government are making themselves look stupid by continuing to sabre-rattle on a patently sensible suggestion.

Mr. Taylor

The United Kingdom observes the law, and we need to know what we can do about enforcement and derogation. This ground has already been covered. The Government think that this is not a health and safety matter at all but an employment matter and should be covered by the social chapter, in which case we would have the benefit of our opt-out. Those arguments will be carried whole-heartedly into the intergovernmental conference.