§ 12. Sir W. Elliottasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many industrial stoppages the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service has been involved in in the last 12 months.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerIn the 12 months up to 31st October 1976, the ACAS received 3,488 requests for conciliation. An analysis showing how many industrial stoppages were involved will be available in the Service's next annual report. In the calendar year 1975, the ACAS received 2,564 requests for conciliation and conciliated in 483 cases involving a stoppage of work and 132 involving other industrial action.
§ Sir W. ElliottIs the Minister aware that conciliation is urgently needed concerning the Tyneside Metro system, since its future construction is heavily threatened by the blacking action of members of ASLEF? Will he use his advisory service to indicate to those who are holding up this development that employment prospects on Tyneside and many other places in the country as well will be heavily threatened if this project is ended?
§ Mr. WalkerThe House has long recognised the unwisdom of Ministers commenting on cases and disputes that are currently in process and the desirability of avoiding the use of words that might exacerbate difficulties. But, of course, the services of ACAS are available at the request of the parties.
§ Mr. BuchanCan the Minister give figures to illustrate the reduction that has occurred in the number of man-hours lost 1097 through industrial disputes since the repeal by the present Government of the class-ridden legislation enacted by the Tory Party when it was in power? Would he not agree that that dramatic fall illustrates completely that, whoever is responsible for the present situation, it is not the workers or the trade unionists, despite the allusions by Tory Members?
§ Mr. WalkerI am sure that the House as a whole is satisfied with the enormous improvement in industrial relations and the fact that the number of days lost due to industrial disputes this year is 50 per cent. down on last year, which in turn was the best year since 1968. I understand that for the first nine months of this year industrial disputes accounted for less than half the days lost.
§ Mr. MadelDo we take it from those statements that ACAS gives advice to firms as to how they might improve their disputes procedure? Would the Minister agree that, despite the drop in the general figures for the number of days lost, there are still far too many cases where the disputes procedure in firms is bypassed and industrial action takes place? Is there not a need for improvement?
§ Mr. WalkerI am glad to have a chance to say what I should have said in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Renfrewshire, West (Mr. Buchan), which is that of course there is no doubt that the services of ACAS have made a significant contribution to the improvement to which I referred. In reply to the hon. Member for Bedfordshire, South (Mr. Madel), I think he may know—because he takes an interest in these matters—that ACAS has issued a consultation document about disputes procedures. I am sure that if he has some views to express ACAS will be glad to receive them.