§ 2. Major Bruceasked the Minister of Labour how many working days have been lost through industrial disputes since the end of the war; and how many were lost during the comparable period after the 1914–18 war.
§ Mr. IsaacsThe number of working days lost through industrial disputes causing stoppage of work from V.E. day to the end of September, 1949, was approximately 10¼ million. In the corresponding period after 1914–18 war, the number was nearly 170 million.
§ Mr. Selwyn LloydDo not the figures Oven by the right hon. Gentleman make all the more blameworthy the mess which the Government are making of the economic position?
§ Mr. IsaacsIf it is blameworthy so to arrange industrial conditions in this country to prevent people coming out on strike, we accept the blame.
Mr. H. D. HughesCould my right hon. Friend say how many inches of space per man-hour lost are being given by the Press compared with the space given after the first war?
§ Professor SavoryHow many of these strikes were unofficial? How many hours were taken up purely by unofficial strikes?
§ Mr. IsaacsThat I could not say without notice, and even then it would not be a complete check-up.
§ Mr. Sydney SilvermanCan my right hon. Friend give the corresponding figures for official and unofficial strikes for the same period in the United States?
§ Mr. IsaacsNo, Sir, I could not, but I think they would show a rather startling difference.
Vice-Admiral TaylorIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that these two periods are not in any way comparable?