Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what processes HMRC has in place to ensure compliance with Regulation 5 of the Working Time Regulations 1998 in relation to staff that work regularly in excess of 48 hours per week.

The Working Time Regulations 1998 are explained to staff in HMRC HR Policy 28002. The policy details the responsibility of managers to monitor working hours to ensure compliance and action that they should take if their staff are working excessive hours.

HMRC discourages opting out of the working time regulations, with any opt outs restricted to a maximum period of 12 months. Opt outs are activity monitored both centrally and by the HR Business Partners embedded in the business.