HC Deb 01 May 1968 vol 763 cc225-6W
Mr. Onslow

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works (1) what were the average daily hours worked when the House was in session by the drivers of official transport assigned to Government Whips in 1964 and 1967, respectively;

(2) what were the average weekly hours worked by drivers of official transport allocated to Ministers while the House was in session in 1964 and 1967, respectively.

Mr. Mellish

In 1967 drivers of Minister's cars, including the car allocated to the Chief Whip, worked an average of 61 hours per week while the House was in session. The transport requirements of Government Whips other than the Chief Whip were met by Government Car Service night pool cars; drivers of these cars work a 12-hour shift; approximately 1 man-hour is taken up in carrying the Whips. Records for 1964 are no longer available but the length of the night-shift was certainly the same then, and it is believed that the average weekly hours worked by the drivers of cars allocated to Ministers were also much the same then as in 1967.