To ask the President of the Council how many civil servants in her 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 her Department have refused to waive the requirement; and what is the total cost of compliance with the Directive. [76802]

Nine members of the staff of the Privy Council Office have signed an agreement to disapply the 48-hour limit. None has refused to do so. The cost of compliance with the Directive is negligible, in view of the small size of my Department.