§ 6. Sir A. Meyerasked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of days lost through industrial action and unemployment expressed as a single figure in 1977; and what was the corresponding figure for 1973.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerAbout 340 million in 1977 and 145 million in 1973.
§ Sir A. MeyerIs the Labour Party slogan at the next General Election to be "Back to work with Labour" or "Labour brings industrial peace"?
§ Mr. WalkerI assumed when I saw the Question that it had probably been tabled at the prompting of Tory Party Central Office to provide propaganda. That kind of approach helps neither industrial relations nor the unfortunate people who are unemployed
§ Mr. Kilroy-SilkWill my hon. Friend accept that my constituents at Otis Elevators in Kirkby are extremely grateful to his Department for the payment of temporary employment subsidy, which saved 1,000 jobs there? Will he also accept that, if the contract for lifts at the new Manpower Services Commission building in Sheffield were to go to a foreign competitor, a Swiss-based firm, we should be in the ludicrous position of the Department of Employment on the one hand paying out a subsidy to retain jobs in my constituency and on the other hand giving a contract to foreign competitors? Will he do something about it?
§ Mr. WalkerI am grateful for the first part of my hon. Friend's question. I have just been assured by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State that he has already entered into discussions with the Chairman of the Manpower Services Commission about the lifts to be fitted at the new headquarters at Sheffield.