§ 5. Mr. Peter Morrisonasked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the total number of BSC employees working on less than a five-day week.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Industry (Mr. Michael Meacher)The corporation informs us that some 4,500 employees are at present working less than five days a week on their normal duties, but the corporation has so far found alternative work for nearly all of these, so as to provide full five-day working.
§ Mr. MorrisonIs the Minister aware that there is grave concern amongst the employees of the British Steel Corporation about their future? Does he agree that nationalisation is not necessarily an answer to full employment, and that it can lead to redundancies just as much as private industry?
§ Mr. MeacherIn fact, the record of the British Steel Corporation on redundancies is a great deal better than it would have been if the corporation had been a number of private concerns. That is shown by the fact that only half of the job losses resulting after 1967, after nationalisation, led to redundancies. In 50 per cent. of all cases there was redeployment. I can give the hon. Gentleman an assurance that the BSC is taking all steps to try to overcome the 7 present situation. It is making up 80 per cent. of average earnings under the terms of the guaranteed working week agreement made between the corporation and the unions. That is a great deal better than arrangements made with private concerns in similar circumstances.