28. Mr. Bob Brownasked the Minister of Labour how many working days were lost per 1,000 of the employed population in the northern region due to industrial disputes during 1965 and 1966; and if he will provide a comparison with the Midlands and the South-East.
§ Mr. FernyhoughFigures for 1966 will be available in a few weeks' time. In 1965 the number of working days per 1,000 employed persons lost by reason of stoppages of work through industrial disputes was about 90 in the northern region, about 250 in the Midlands, and about 50 in the South-East.
Mr. BrownI thank my hon. Friend for that information. Would not he agree that it provides a further basis for the Government increasing the movement of industry to the north-east of England?
§ Mr. FernyhoughYes, Sir, and I should have thought that these figures would be an added attraction to industrialists who may have had a bad image 728 of the North. These figures for the North put the matter in its right perspective.