§ 18. Sir W. DAVISONasked the President of the Board of Trade if he can state, approximately, what is the average number of hours per week worked by operatives in the shipbuilding industry in Great Britain and in Holland and Germany, respectively; and how many working days during the current year have been lost by strikes in the shipbuilding industry in this country and in Holland and Germany, respectively?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Miss Bondfield)I have been asked to reply. The normal hours in the shipbuilding industry in this country are 47 per week. Statistics are not available as to the average hours actually worked. The 1948 number of working days lost through disputes this year in the shipbuilding and ship repairing industry in Great Britain and Northern Ireland is approximately 500,000. In Germany and Holland, the normal hours, as fixed by statute, are 48. In Germany these may be exceeded by agreement between employers and employed, and in Holland by authorization of the Minister of Labour. I understand that in Hamburg it has been agreed that the normal week shall be 54 hours. In Holland authorisation to work a 56½hour week have been issued, but I am unaware to what extent Information is not available as to the number of working days lost this year owing to strikes and lock-outs in Holland and Germany.