HC Deb 14 July 1943 vol 391 c191
49. Mr. Hepworth

asked the Minister of Production whether taking the loss through labour troubles of one hour per worker per year, he will express this total loss in terms of battleship or aircraft construction?

The Minister of Production (Mr. Lyttelton)

Any figures which I could give my hon. Friend must be taken with the greatest reserve. They are misleading since, as he will realise, only a proportion of the total labour force is or could be employed in producing battleships or aircraft. With these reservations, however, I can say as a rough guide that the loss would be considerably under half a battleship or 200 aircraft in the 12 months.

Captain Cobb

How much additional effort would be required to make good the deficiency?

Mr. Lyttelton

I calculate that if every worker worked for 12 seconds a day more in the next 12 months the loss would be made up.

Mr. R. J. Taylor

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that if employers ceased doing stupid things, there might be less labour trouble?

Mr. George Griffiths

Is it not stated in a circular issued by the Ministry of Information that the time lost by the workers in the last 12 months was only half-an-hour per head?