§ Mr. Peter DuncanTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many breaches of the EC Working Time Directive have been recorded to date in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) Scotland. [72399]
§ Alan JohnsonWe do not record "breaches", but we do collate figures relating to enquiries and complaints
The ACAS helpline currently receives over 5,000 working time calls during a yearThe Employment Tribunal Service Annual Report for 2001–02 showed that, during the period, the Employment Tribunal Service disposed of 1,632 cases that were specifically concerned with the working time entitlements (rest and paid annual leave). 169 (10 per cent.) were successful and 495 (30 per cent.) were ACAS conciliated settlements.Since the introduction of the Working Time Regulations in 1998 (up to March this year), the Health and Safety Executive Working Time officers have dealt with 685 complaints and completed 469 investigations on the working time and night work limits. Local authority Environmental Health Departments have recorded one successful prosecution over the past two yearsThese figures relate specifically to GB (there are separate Regulations for Northern Ireland). There is no individual breakdown currently available for Scotland.