Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 28 November 2016 to Question 53350, if he will record the average number of hours worked each week by NHS job category in future; and if he will make a statement.

As set out in the Answer of 28 November to Question 53350, the Electronic Staff Record (ESR) does not clearly show the full extent of additional work carried out by National Health Service staff. Some inferences can be made about average hours by analysing data from ESR (which is the payroll system) and other sources such as trust rostering systems. There are different rostering systems for different staff groups in the NHS; not all employers use the same systems; and the working time contribution of consultants is measured in units which are of varying lengths of time depending on when they are worked. To collect data centrally on the average hours worked each week by NHS job category would place an unreasonable burden on NHS organisations. It is the responsibility of employers to ensure that hours worked are within statutory and contractual limits for working hours and patterns.