HC Deb 16 October 1969 vol 788 cc586-7
17. Mr. John Page

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many days and vehicles have been lost since 25th June due to unconstitutional strikes in the motor industry; and what action the Trades Union Congress has taken under the new undertaking to reduce such strikes.

Mr. Walker

Official statistics of stoppages of work due to industrial disputes relate to calendar months and do not differentiate between constitutional and unconstitutional action. For the period 1st July to 30th September, 1969, it is provisionally estimated that stoppages in the motor vehicle industry resulted in the loss of 131,000 working days at the establishments where the disputes occurred. Official figures are not available for the loss of production involved. In major disputes which have occurred during this period, in the motor industry and elsewhere, the T.U.C. has maintained close contact with the unions concerned and has often made a valuable contribution to a settlement.

Mr. Page

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that, since the dropping of the Industrial Relations Bill, Standard Triumph has been on strike and almost stopped for eight weeks, Vauxhalls for five weeks, Rovers for six weeks, and Girlings started a new strike yesterday? Is he aware that in the motor industry strikes are running at twice last year's record rate for days lost, and will he not accept the appeal that Lord Stokes made the day before yesterday for the Government to do something positive about unofficial strikes

Mr. Walker

I do not know where the hon. Gentleman gets his figures, but they do not tally with those provided by my Department. As a matter of fact, the number of days lost in the motor industry in the period to which the Question refers was lower this year than in the corresponding periods of last year or the preceding year. [Interruption.] I am giving the facts: I will give the exact figures. The number of disputes in the period covered by the Question was 66 this year, 65 last year and 60 in 1967, so there is only a marginal difference.

Mr. Ashton

Does not my hon. Friend agree that, despite these stoppages, we are now seeing the opening of one of the most successful motor shows for many years, that exports are higher than they have been for many years and that this is due to the people who are making the motor cars?

Mr. Walker

We are all prepared to pay tribute to the results being shown in the motor industry, which reflect great credit on those on both sides of the industry.