§ 71. Sir JOHN MARRIOTTasked the Minister of Labour what was the number of working days lost through industrial disputes in Great Britain in the years 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, and up to the most recent available date in 1926?
§ Mr. BETTERTONThe numbers of working days directly lost through industrial disputes in Great Britain and Northern Ireland were approximately as follow: in 1919–35,000,000; in 1920–26,500,000; in 1921–86,000,000; in 1922–20,000,000; in 1923–10,500,000; in 1924–8,500,000; in 1925–8,000,000; and during January to October of the present year—143,500,000. The foregoing figures relate only to days lost at the establishments where the disputes occurred, and no figures are available as to days lost at other establishments.
§ Sir J. MARRIOTTCan my hon. Friend say, in regard to the figures for 1926, how much of that total is directly attributable to the coal dispute, and how much attributable to other causes?
§ Mr. BETTERTONOf the figure of 143,500,000 there is attributed to the coal dispute 126,500,000, to the general strike 15,000,000, and to other disputes 2,000,000.
§ Mr. CLYNESIn publishing these figures, will the hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of stating how many hours were lost in each case through the action of employers in locking out their workmen?
§ Mr. BETTERTONIf the right hon. Gentleman wishes an answer to a totally different question from the original question, I will endeavour to give it him if he will give me notice.
§ Mr. WALLHEADDoes the hon. Gentleman not think that private coalownership under the present coalowners is a very expensive luxury?
§ Mr. KIRKWOODArising out of the original answer, do the figures which the hon. Member has given include the number of days that the hon. Member for York (Sir J. Marriott) should have been here attending to his business, for which he is paid, and when he was away making money "on his own"?