§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the Government's policy towards the proposed extension of the Working Time Directive to include the fishing industry and other currently exempt professions. [20651]
§ Mr. Ian McCartneyThe European Commission have issued a White Paper but have not yet made detailed proposals. Each of the sectors excluded from the scope of the Working Time Directive has its own specific characteristics and we will need to look carefully at how subsequent proposals take these into account. Any proposals for legislation must respect our particular concerns, for example, about junior doctors, the offshore oil and gas industry and sea fishing.