§ Mr. David PorterTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will undertake a survey of all offices and agencies for which he has responsibility to ascertain to what extent staff supplying a service to the public are curtailing their work on a Friday afternoon earlier than other days of the week; and if he will make a statement on his policy on hours of staff working each week.
§ Mr. AitkenWith the exception of the Meteorological Office, which provides a 24-hour service seven days a week, and the service careers/recruiting offices which have set opening hours and are manned to provide advice and assistance to the public during these hours, the Ministry of Defence provides little else in the way of a direct service to the general public,.
Conditioned hours are 41 gross per week in the London pay area, and 42 gross per week elsewhere. Arrival and departure times of staff may be staggered in accordance with departmental regulations. The overriding principle, however, remains that flexibility should be achieved without adverse effect on the overall efficiency of the Department in general, and the establishment in particular.