§ 1. Mr. W. Yatesasked the Minister of Labour how many unofficial strikes were reported to his Department between 1951 and 1960 inclusive.
§ The Minister of Labour (Mr. John Hare)There are difficulties of definition and classification involved and I regret that information for the years before 1960 is not available. I can, however, say that in 1960 there were 2,832 strikes reported to my Department, 68 of which were definitely stated to be official.
§ Mr. YatesIs the Minister aware that the policy laid down by the Leader of the House was that Conservative action should be relevant and decisive? May I ask what has been his policy and that of his predecessors over this matter during the last ten years?
§ Mr. HareIf the hon. Gentleman is asking what is the policy towards unofficial strikes, I will tell him that the trade unions, the employers and the Government have condemned unofficial strikes as being damaging to those who take part in them, damaging to others who do not take part in them and damaging to the interests of the country as a whole.