The man who replaces him Tim Collins is able and ultra-focused

The man who replaces him, Tim Collins, is able and ultra-focused. Between 1981 and 1993 the British economy grew by 2 per cent a year, just ahead of the EU average of 1.8 per cent. Income per head in 1993 was higher than in Sweden, Spain, Ireland, Portugal and Greece, but lower than in countries like Belgium, France, Germany and Denmark.However, the UK is gradually catching up. In 1993, the labour force was 62 per cent of the population over the age of 15, well above the EU average of 55 per cent and only exceeded by Denmark with 67 per cent.The principal reason for this is that a higher proportion of women work in the UK than in any other major European country. Higher participation by young workers (aged 15-24) and older workers (50-64) also accounted for the relatively large size of the labour force.Despite the longer hours and the higher size of the labour force, living standards in the UK are no more than the EU average.

The large discrepancy between actual and usual hours worked, said the report, was because a much higher proportion of the labour force is absent from work in the UK because of leave, sickness, injury, training or other reasons.According to John Philpott, director of the Employment Policy Institute, the discrepancy is a sign of the downside of the flexible labour market. "Some people will try to work longer because they're worried about losing their job. The result is that they fall ill."Flexible or not, Britain's labour force is proportionally the second largest in the EU, the report shows. What is more, it has been rising in the past 10 years, while it has been falling across the EU.In practice, the differential for hours actually worked was rather less, with UK employees working an hour and a half longer than the EU average of 39.6. PAUL WALLACE Economics Editor The British work the longest hours in Europe, the percentage of the population in the labour force is second only to Denmark, but our living standards are no more than the European Union average.These findings emerged from UK Business in Europe, the first comprehensive comparison of the UK with other EU countries.In 1993, the average number of hours usually worked per week by full- time employees was 43.4, 3.9 higher than in Germany and well above above the EU average of 40.2.

The civil service was being run down to a second-rate service and cash wasn't a problem for me."Mr Lock, a keen sailor from Carshalton, Surrey, eased into early retirement. "I knew when I took the decision that it would be a positive experience."Since receiving a pension of half his annual salary plus a lump sum, Mr Lock has lost a stone in weight, cut down considerably on the amount he drinks and still cannot find enough hours in the day.. "Now that I have finite resources I can't be spontaneous with money in the knowledge that I have next month's salary coming in."To Richard Lock, 54, a pounds 36,000-a-year team leader for Customs and Excise, the opportunity to take voluntary redundancy was good news. "When I became aware of the option my mind was made up within 10 minutes. I'm a realist and know exactly what the situation is like when it comes to finding employment in your forties, particularly in a new career."The course is part-time and all the other students are in paid employment "I no longer have colleagues I miss just saying `good morning' and the office-type chats.

When we couldn't fix a course meeting for an evening next week I almost felt bereft because that was another thing I could go to."Although Ms Owen received a pay-off of three years' salary, being unemployed means she must watch her money more carefully. But recently the reality of her situation has begun to hit home "It's quite difficult being self-disciplined. There is a part of me which enjoys doing very little after working very hard, but then the novelty wears off Just this week it has struck me... the first signs of depression."Ms Owen has noticed subtle changes in her habits and attitude. "I never used to watch much telly but now I find myself looking at the listings to see if there is a film to watch in the afternoon. I find there is a slight tendency to smoke more now, although my drinking hasn't altered," she said."The future is uncertain.