§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment she has made of(a) implementation of the Working Time Directive in other EU member states and (b) costs to business in other EU member states of complying with the Working Time Directive. [164582]
§ Mr. SutcliffeOther EU member states have all implemented the Working Time Directive. From discussions with them, I know they have used the flexibilities available in the Directive in different ways, depending on their national circumstances and traditions, but I have made no formal assessment of this. I do not have figures for the cost to businesses for other EU member states.
§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment she has made of the implications for the competitiveness of UK industry of complying with the Working Time Directive. [164583]
§ Mr. SutcliffeThe Government have put in place a comprehensive set of measures aimed at raising competitiveness and closing the UK's productivity gap with major competitors. The U K economy has grown faster than the G7 average in five of the last six years. Since the Working Time Directive applies to all European Union members it is unlikely to put the UK at a competitive disadvantage with these competitors.