§ Mr. TyrieTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment 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. [76810]
§ Mr. MudieThree members of the Senior Civil Service in the Department for Education and Employment (including the Employment Service) have signed an agreement to disapply the 48 hour limit. Central records are not kept for staff outside the Senior Civil Service in DfEE (including the Employment Service), nor do the Regulations require employers to keep records of the number of workers who refuse to sign an opt-out agreement. The standard terms and conditions of service for staff employed by the Department for Education and Employment (including the Employment Service) are well within the limits set by the Working Time Regulations. Compliance costs are not kept centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.