§ Mr. TyrieTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many civil servants in his Department have been invited to waive the Working Time Directive requirement to work less than 48 hours a week on 17 consecutive weeks; how many civil servants in his Department have refused to waive the requirement; and what is the total cost of compliance with the Directive. [76800]
§ Mr. Timms105 staff in this Department have signed an agreement to disapply the 48 hour limit.
The standard terms and conditions of service for staff employed by the Department are well within the limits set by the Working Time Regulations. The Regulations do not require employers to keep records of the number of workers who refuse to sign an opt-out agreement and no central records are kept by this Department. Costs of complying with the Directive are not available.