To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses worked for more than 48 hours a week in the last year, broken down by month. [67380]

The information requested is not available centrally. The General Whitley Council (the national negotiating body for National Health Service staff with Whitley contracts) has agreed that an employee will not be expected to work more than a maximum of 48 hours averaged over 17 weeks in accordance with the Working Time Regulations. An employee may however agree to work over the 48 hour limit and will have to do so in writing to his employer.