§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Employment if there is any correlation between reduction in the length of the basic working week in all industries and changes in the total number of hours worked.
§ Mr. GummerMany factors affect the actual number of hours worked each week on average by each worker.268W They include changes in technology, in productivity, and in the economy, as well as changes in the length of the basic work. It is difficult to disentangle the effects of these different factors, but it is clear that if the length of the basic week is reduced in a way which increases unit labour costs, our competitiveness, and thus job prospects, will be put at risk.