§ 1. Mr. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many days were lost in industrial disputes in the most recent 12-month period for which figures are available.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Employment (Mr. Selwyn Gummer)It is provisionally estimated that 7.4 million working days were lost through stoppages of work due to industrial disputes in the United Kingdom in the 12 months ended 28 February 1983.
§ Mr. KnoxDoes my hon. Friend agree that that represents an improvement compared with most 12-month periods in recent years and is a vindication of the Government's step-by-step approach to industrial relations reform?
§ Mr. GummerI am sure that my hon. Friend is right to say that, in general, this is an improvement. It shows that more people realise that there is rarely anything to be gained by striking.
§ Mr. SkinnerIf the Minister and the Government are anxious to give the impression that everything is fine and dandy on the industrial scene, why do they not get in touch with those at British Leyland, tell them to stop hanky-pankying about with the so-called washing up and bathing time—although the argument is a little more important than that—or the six minutes about which the strike is alleged to have occurred, and realise that they should treat British Leyland workers as part of the wealth creators of this country in the same way—or perhaps nearly as well—as Members of Parliament, who do not clock on at all? From the evidence of today's attendance, many of them are bathing and washing up all day.
§ Mr. GummerThe hon. Gentleman would do more to help those whom he claims to represent if he explained that the enormous assistance given to British Leyland by this country through the taxpayers' money would be better supported by workers staying at work and making good British products available for sale throughout the world.