§ 7. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many strikes there have been since 1st September, 1964, to the latest date for which figures are available; how many workers were involved; how many work days were lost; and what were the comparable figures for a similar period of time prior to 1st September. 1964.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerThe number of stoppages of work due to industrial disputes in the United Kingdom which began in the period from 1st September, 1964, to 30th March, 1970, was 13,781. In all stoppages in progress in this period there were 6,747,000 workers involved and 22.245,000 working days lost at the establishments where the disputes occurred. The 1969 and 1970 components of these figures are provisional. The comparable figures for the period from 1st February, 1959, to 30th August, 1964, were 13,644 stoppages, 7,879,000 workers involved and 20,546,000 working days lost.
§ Mr. HamiltonDoes not that answer show that the Sunday Times was correct in its assessment on 5th April when it accused the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition of deliberately selecting statistics for his own party political purposes, and that this is not a responsible way in which to treat a very serious problem?
§ Mr. WalkerMy hon. Friend is right. Many recent public speeches have exaggerated and distorted the statistics primarily for political ends. We should take a balanced view, but I do not want to minimise the serious problems we face.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithCould the hon. Gentleman deny that when coalmining is excluded, as his right hon. Friend in the White Paper and also the Donovan Report recognised, the number of strikes in the last 54½ years is greater than in the whole of the previous thirteen years?
§ Mr. WalkerThis is part of the distortion. The White Paper followed the pattern of the Royal Commission, and for statistical purposes in making a current assessment excluded coalmining. But neither the White Paper nor the Royal Commission suggested for a moment that strikes in the coal mines were any less severe than any other strikes in their impact on the economy.
§ 8. Sir G. Nabarroasked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she is aware that loss of working days due to industrial disputes increased from 2.277 million in 1964 to 4.69 million in 1968: what was the comparable rate of loss during the 15 months ended 31st March, 1970; and what steps 1434 are now to be taken to reduce losses and damage to exports.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerThe answer to the first part of the question is yes. During 15 months ended 31st March, 1970, 8,898,000 working days were lost. This figure includes 6,772,000 working days lost in 1969. Both figures are provisional. My right hon. Friend is stimulating and encouraging the reform and extension of collective bargaining, but the primary responsibility lies with individual managements.
§ Sir G. NabarroWhile recognising that nobody in the world has any panacea for ending industrial disputes altogether, would not the right hon. Lady recognise that throughout the last six years the trend of industrial stoppages and the aggregation of days lost has been steadily upwards, including or excluding the coalmining industry? Should we not all be gravely concerned about this disruption of production?
§ Mr. WalkerI was pleased to hear the hon. Gentleman say that there was no magic elixir. Of course, in the past we have been led to believe that the Opposition could provide one. It is our belief that it would turn out to be a poison chalice if ever they have the opportunity to try to apply it to those in industry. The hon. Gentleman is right that there is genuine cause for concern, although I would point out that the 8 million-odd days lost during the 15 months concerned in his Question were also equalled by the 12 months of 1957 during the period of office of the right hon. Member for Enfield, West (Mr. Iain Macleod). [Interruption.] It is a fact that in 1957 8 million days were lost. The phenomenon which we are now experiencing is not unique in that other countries are undergoing the same kind of experience.
§ Mr. MolloyThis is a serious matter, despite the trivial way in which the subject is being treated by hon. Members opposite, but bearing in mind that it is essential that both sides of industry and firms should get together, would not my hon. Friend condemn the attitude of a firm in Perivale, Middlesex—Davalls— which has refused to meet officers of the A.E.F. and also conciliation officers from his Department? Does he not agree that 1435 this sort of attitude does not assist industrial relations?
§ Mr. WalkerI would be reluctant to comment about a particular situation without knowing all the facts, but I would regret that any employer should refuse to meet trade union officials or officers of the Department.
§ 10 and 11. Mr. William Priceasked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity (1) what was the total number of days lost through strikes between 1965 and 1969; and what was the comparable figure for 1959–63; and
(2) how many strikes took place between 1965 and 1969; and what was the comparable figure for 1959–63.
§ Mr. Harold Walker11,806 stoppages of work due to industrial disputes began in the period 1965 to 1969. In all stoppages in progress in this period, 19,572,000 working days were lost at the establishments where the disputes occurred. The 1969 component of these figures is provisional. Comparable figures for the period 1959 to 1963 are 12,128 stoppages and 18,893,000 working days lost.
§ Mr. PriceIn view of that further enlightenment, can my hon. Friend say what all the fuss is about? Have not we proved conclusively today that all the noise from the party opposite is so much humbug and that if right hon. and hon. Gentlemen opposite want an issue to improve their rating in the opinion polls they must look elsewhere?
§ Mr. WalkerI have already said how deplorable is this practice of the Opposition in selecting and distorting figures in order to make political capital. I repeat that we should not seek to minimise the problems, but we shall not help by approaching them in a fashion which exaggerates and distorts them.
§ Mr. SpeedIs it not a fact that the incidence of stoppages in the last 12 months, including or excluding mining, is the worst in our industrial history?
§ Mr. WalkerIt is not the worst in our history, but it is certainly serious. I repeat that we should not minimise the problem, but we only exacerbate it by 1436 making a political football of the situation.
§ 36. Mr. Speedasked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will state the total number of stoppages due to industrial disputes, excluding mining, from October, 1964 to the latest date.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerExcluding mining and quarrying, the provisional total of stoppages of work due to industrial disputes in the United Kingdom which began in the period 1st October, 1964 to 31st March, 1970 is 11,154.
§ Mr. SpeedWill the Under-Secretary confirm that that figure is greater than the comparable figure from October. 1951, to September, 1964?
§ Mr. WalkerI cannot confirm that without notice.