HC Deb 06 December 1965 vol 722 cc13-4
28. Mr. Bishop

asked the Minister of Labour how many working days there are in the average year; how many were lost due to strikes of all kinds in the most recent year; and what percentage this is of the total.

Mr. Gunter

It is estimated that there were about 5,500 million working days in the United Kingdom in 1964. The number of days lost in 1964 through stoppages of work due to industrial disputes was about 2,277,000: this figure is less than 0.05 per cent. of the total number of working days.

Mr. Bishop

Would not my right hon. Friend agree that some strikes can be particularly harmful to the economy but that his reply indicates that relatively little time is lost through strikes compared with the amount of time lost from industrial injury and sickness where the figures are over 100 times as great?

Mr. Gunter

I would certainly agree that the figures are low, but I would also say that any interruption of any sort in the production line in the present state of the economy is to be deplored.

Sir Knox Cunningham

Would the Minister agree that loss of time due to illness often cannot be avoided, but that days lost by strikes can be avoided? Is not this figure far too high? Will he say what is the comparable figure in 1964?

Mr. Gunter

In 1964—I have already quoted this figure—2,277,000 days were lost. I would also remind the House that in 1962 5¾ million days were lost, and 8½ million in 1957. We are not doing so badly.

Mr. Howe

Will the right hon. Gentleman agree that during the part of the year that has so far elapsed there has been an increase in the figures on last year? Will he not also agree that one cannot measure the effect of strikes simply by counting the days lost, that they represent a slowing-down of the industrial machine and that it is important and of the highest priority that the Government should press on with reducing losses of all kinds arising from industrial disputes?

Mr. Gunter

The hon. and learned Gentleman is right in saying that some strikes are more harmful than others. Some strikes involving only a few men do terrible damage. We ought to try to eliminate them as far as possible. On the question of a comparison of last year with this, 2,697,000 working days were lost from January to October, 1965, and 2,051,000 working days were lost from January to October, 1964. Therefore, the position is worse, but it is infinitely better than it was a couple of years ago, so I do not see any purpose at all in these comparisons of one year with another. They get us nowhere.

Mr. Urwin

Is my right hon. Friend in a position to indicate the percentage comparison with other major industrial countries?

Mr. Gunter

Not without notice, but I am quite sure that the figures will bear favourable comparison.