§ Mr. GapesTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what estimate Her Majesty's Government have made of the cost of implementation of the working time directive for central Government employees; and what is his most recent calculation of the cost of implementing the rules governing the 48-hour working week for central Government employees. [4089]
§ Mr. FreemanThe cost of implementing the provisions of the EU working time directive for central Government as a whole has not been calculated. In the main, civil servants have terms and conditions of employment, and work hours, which do not conflict with the provisions of the directive. It is for individual Departments and agencies to assess the effects in their own areas.