§ Mr. TynanTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many employees in his Department have(a) signed a formal opt out from and (b) are exempt from the Working Time Directive; and how many employees in his Department have recorded hours, including any accruing on a flexitime basis, in excess of the maximum allowed under the Working Time Directive in the last month for which figures are available. [178371]
§ Mr. McNultyThe Department for Transport has(a) 37 staff who have signed a waiver allowing them to work more than the maximum hours allowed under the Working Time Directive; (b) no staff who are exempt from the Working Time Directive. There are 26 staff who have recorded hours in excess of the maximum allowed under the Working Time Directive in the 17 week period up to the week commencing 31 May 2004. These figures cover the central Department only.
The Department for Transport is committed to reducing the number of staff who are required to work in excess of 48 hours a week to an absolute minimum commensurate with meeting operational needs.