Work flaw

It has been reported that the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), has come out against the European Union's working time directive – a basic piece of health and safety legislation.

Contrary to the CIPD's stance, there is a clear relationship between continually working long hours and ill-health. A recent study of 6,000 British civil servants published in the European Heart Journal has concluded that long hours and overtime are "related to increased risk of incident CHD (coronary heart disease] independently of conventional risk factors".

Moreover as TUC general- secretary Brendan Barber has stated, employers that treat their staff well and already support flexible working arrangements have nothing to fear from working time rules. Let us hope that the UK government ignores the CIPD's flawed advice.

CATHERINE STIHLER

Labour MEP for Scotland

Church Street

Inverkeithing, Fife