§ 39. Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Labour how many working days have been lost in Great Britain during the years 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, and the first 11 months of 1926, due to employers locking their workmen out?
§ Mr. BETTERTONThe official statistics relating to industrial disputes do not 2555 differentiate between strikes and lockouts, and I am therefore unable to give the figures asked for.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSDid not the hon. Gentleman inform an hon. Member a fortnight ago, in reply to another question, that if a further question were put down the information would be obtained?
§ Mr. BETTERTONI regret I am unable to give it, for the very obvious reason that the question of whether a dispute is a strike or a lock-out is very often a matter of acute difference of opinion.
§ Mr. PALINGCan the hon. Gentleman say whether, in the legislation which is foreshadowed on this subject, attention will be given to the lock-out side of the business as well as to the strikes?