HC Deb 05 November 1974 vol 880 cc874-5
14. Mr. Hayhoe

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures for the number of industrial disputes and the days lost as a result starting since 1st March 1974; and how these figures compare with the same period last year.

Mr. Booth

Provisional figures for the period' 1st March 1974 to 30th September 1974 are 1,837 stoppages beginning in the period resulting in the loss of 4,772,000 working days. Figures on the same basis for the corresponding period in 1973 are 1,716 stoppages and 4,046,000 days lost.

Mr. Hayhoe

Will the Minister confirm that there is a worsening trend, particularly if we compare recent months with last year? Will he tell us why in recent months, since statutory controls on, wages have been removed, this is so?

Mr. Booth

I cannot confirm that there is any worsening trend. I believe that, with the removal of statutory controls, a development is now taking place in collective bargaining which will lead to a reduction in the number of disputes. We do not expect a sudden drop in the number of disputes with particular legislation. However, I should point out that there was a saving of 4½ million days lost per week as a result of the three-day week by the solving of the miners' dispute. Therefore, the actual time lost in production as a result of disputes has fallen considerably.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

Can my hon. Friend confirm that the figures of industrial disputes he has given do not include any of the chief executives of the City of London Corporation, who, we understand, were secretly given increases of £2,500 to £3,000 a year? As this was done without consultation with his Department and as the corporation has said that dustmen and lower-paid workers are wicked to ask for a few pounds more a week, could I have my hon. Friend's comments?

Mr. Booth

To the best of my knowledge, the increases to which my hon. Friend refers were achieved without industrial disputes or loss of working days. Had offers of similar increases been made to the dustmen, they might not have been involved in any disputes either.