§ Mr. BurdenTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if the working time directive applies to(a) all public sector employees and (b) employees of the privatised utilities. [15171]
Mr. John M. Taylor[holding answer 10 February 1997]: The directive applies to all sectors of activity, both public and private, with certain exceptions. These exceptions cover: air; rail; road; sea; inland waterway and lake transport; sea fishing; other work at sea; the activities of doctors in training; and cases where characteristics peculiar to certain specific activities of the armed forces, police or civil protection services inevitably conflict with the directive.