HC Deb 16 February 1956 vol 548 cc2520-1
40. Mr. E. Johnson

asked the Minister of Labour what percentages of the working days lost through industrial stoppages in 1955 were due to strikes in the coal-mining industry, on the railways and in the docks, respectively.

Mr. Iain Macleod

About 29 per cent. in coal-mining, 23 per cent. on the railways and 20 per cent. at docks, a total of about 72 per cent.

Mr. Johnson

Does it not appear from these rather distressing figures that those who believe that the workers in the industries which were to be nationalised would be happy and contented were gravely misled by the party opposite?

Mr. G. Brown

In order to assess the answer to that question, may we be told by the Minister how these percentages compare with those for the days under private enterprise in those industries?

Mr. Macleod

I asked how these figures compared with those for the last full year before the war. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] I am just giving one figure; oddly enough it proves the case both ways. In 1938 the percentage on the railways was 1 per cent., whereas the figure for coal-mining was 52 per cent. Either side of the House can make what it likes out of that.

41. Captain Pilkington

asked the Minister of Labour how the 3,794,000 days which were lost to the nation as a result of strikes in 1955 were split up between nationalised and other industries.

Mr. Iain Macleod

Of the total number of working days lost in 1955 as a result of all kinds of stoppage of work due to industrial disputes, about 53 per cent. were lost by workers in nationalised industries and about 47 per cent. in other industries.

Captain Pilkington

Does my right hon. Friend agree that one of the quickest ways of bringing about unemployment in this country is to have lots more strikes and ever-higher costs?

42. Captain Pilkington

asked the Minister of Labour how the 2,457,000 days which were lost to the nation as a result of strikes in 1954 were split up between nationalised and other industries.

Mr. Iain Macleod

Of the total number of working days lost in 1954 as a result of all kinds of stoppage of work due to industrial disputes, about 24 per cent. were lost in nationalised industries and about 76 per cent. in other industries.