HC Deb 07 September 2004 vol 424 cc1009-10W
Mr. Simon Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many staff at each grade in his Depart#ent have opted out of the Working Time Regulations; and what the average number of hours these staff work per week is. [187097]

Mr. Charles Clarke

My Department is committed to reducing the number of employees who work in excess of the Working Time Directive maximum to an absolute minimum. 64 staff have signed a formal opt out from the Working Time Directive. The following table shows the number of staff at each grade:

Grade Number
Administrative Officer 7
Executive Officer 22
Higher Executive Officer 15
Higher Executive Officer (Development) 2
Senior Executive Officer 10
Grade 7 7
Senior Civil Service 1
Total 64

The average number of hours that these staff work per week is not kept centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

(b) The following table shows the proportion of working age1 people (i) with no qualifications, (ii) qualified to level 2 and (iii) qualified to level 4. Figures are given for the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Central Parliamentary Constituency Area (PCA), the Tyne and Wear local Learning and Skills Council (LSC) area, and the North East Government Office Region (GOR). Data comes from the Local Area Labour Force Surveys conducted annually from 1999–2000 to 2002–03.

1Working age population refers to males age# 16 to 64 and females aged 16 to 59.