LABOUR MEPS LET DOWN NORTH EAST ON WORKING TIME - HALL

12.00.00am GMT Mon 15th Dec 2008

North East Lib Dem MEP Fiona Hall, speaking after the vote on the Working Time Directive today said:

"At a time when many households across the North East are struggling to pay their bills, people will not thank Labour MEPs, led by Stephen Hughes, for dictating to them how many hours they should work.

"As the North East Chamber of Commerce has made clear, the scrapping of the opt-out is a bitter blow for businesses and workers alike. There is no reason to get rid of the opt-out so long as it is truly voluntary.

"Given that there are Health and Safety safeguards already in place to prevent dangerous working, people should be allowed to earn overtime if they wish to.

"It is ironic that the UK Government could not rely on Labour MEPs to support them in the retention of the opt out. I hope that in the forthcoming discussions between the Council of Ministers and the Parliament to resolve this issue the UK Government will remain firm.

"Stopping people from working their way out of debt really is a case of hitting people when they are down."