Working-Time Directive

Mr. Miller
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 29 June, Official Report, column 473, relating to the proposed working-time directive and its effects on offshore oil and gas workers, to which parts of the directive other than working hours the derogation applies; and if he will make a statement on arrangements for leave.

Mr. Michael Forsyth
I explained in my reply to the hon. Member on 29 June 1993, Official Report, col 473, that as a result of our negotiations all work at sea would be excluded from the scope of the proposed directive. This exclusion applies to all the provisions of the proposed directive.