§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will lift the exemptions relating to transport workers to allow them to comply with EC regulations limiting the working week to 48 hours; and if he will make a statement. [21]
§ Mr. WattsArticle 1(3) of the working time directive states that the directive shall apply to all sectors of activity
with the exception of air, rail, road, sea, inland waterway and lake transport, sea fishing, other work at sea and the activities of doctors in training.The European Commission is considering bringing forward proposals for working time controls in the sectors excluded from the directive. However, the Government are challenging the directive in the European Court of Justice on the ground that it is not a genuine health and safety measure and should not, therefore, have been adopted under article 118A of the treaty, and remain opposed to any extension of its provisions to the excluded sectors.