§ Sir Michael NeubertTo ask the President of the Board of Trade when he next expects to meet his European Union counterparts to discuss the working time directive. [37290]
Mr. John M. TaylorMy right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has no such plans at present. If the judgment of the European Court of Justice follows the opinion of the Advocate General, we will raise the question of treaty changes in the intergovernmental conference.
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§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the numbers of people likely to be affected by the working time directive; and what percentage he estimates would refuse to agree in any circumstances to work more than 48 hours. [37300]
Mr. TaylorMy Department estimates that some 2.1 million employees do not conform with the daily and weekly rest provisions in the working time directive; 2.7 million regularly work more than 48 hours a week; and about 0.2 million work over the directive's night work limit. Up to 3.8 million workers could be affected by the directive's paid holiday provisions. There is no information about how many of those who currently work more than 48 hours a week might refuse to do so.
§ Mrs. GormanTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received about the financing implications for the United Kingdom's economy of a maximum 48-hour working week. [37683]
Mr. TaylorMy Department has received a wide range of representations about the working time directive. Many of these have been from organisations concerned about its potential cost implications.
§ Mr. MarlowTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what action the Government proposes to prevent the application of the working time directive in the United Kingdom from 23 November. [37283]
Mr. TaylorThe Government have challenged the legal basis of the working time directive in the European Court of Justice, and will be pursuing their fundamental concerns in the intergovernmental conference.