Britain fights hours plan
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• Britain is resisting new moves to impose maximum working hours and statutory rest periods across Europe.
The plan for an 11-hour limit on the working day was being debated by Europe's employment ministers in Luxemboug as Commercial Motor went to press on Tuesday.
Employment secretary Michael Howard warns that if the limit were rigidly applied 10% of working patterns would have to change, cutting worker's overtime and inflicting E2bn extra costs on industry. Many firms would be forced out of business, he says.
It has been condemned by the Freight Transport Association as imposing a confusing extra layer of regulations on truck operators (CM 20-26 June).
The FTA claimed last week that the EC limits would clash with drivers hours legislation and would be a "nightmare" for haulage managers and the enforcement authorities.