Working time directive could undermine Government's deregulation commitment - Lamb

9.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 2nd Jun 2005

Norman Lamb MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow DTI Secretary, today warned that moves to scrap a key opt-out clause of the Working Time Directive could undermine the vital flexibility of the British economy.

Commenting, Mr Lamb, who is also an employment lawyer, said:

"This is a big test of the Government's commitment to deregulation, as the removal of the opt-out would tie business up in knots.

"If people are being exploited then of course they should have recourse to the law, but the role of the state should not be to prevent people from working the hours they want to work.

"The British Government must stick to its guns and prevent this change getting through."