HC Deb 21 February 1984 vol 54 cc681-2
4. Mr. Knox

asked 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.

Mr. Gummer

It is provisionally estimated that 3.6 million working days were lost through stoppages of work due to industrial disputes in the United Kingdom in the 12 months ending 31 December 1983. This is the lowest annual total since 1967, apart from 1976.

Mr. Knox

Does my hon. friend agree that that figure is a vindication of the Government's step-by-step approach to industrial relations reform? Will he confirm that the Government intend to continue to tread cautiously in this sphere?

Mr. Gummer

I am sure that my hon. Friend is right and that he has followed the debates in Committee on the Trade Union Bill. He will have noticed that the Government's arguments are serious, sensible and well-founded, while those of the Opposition are conservative and reactionary.

Mr. Barron

In view of those figures, does the Minister believe that it is about time he stopped messing about and looking for scapegoats in the trade union movement, as those figures are the lowest for a long time? Will he do something about other matters that bother industry, such as unemployment.?

Mr. Gummer

The hon. Gentleman likes the effect but objects to the cause. The cause is largely the legislation to which he objects and against which he fought.

Mr. John Evans

Will the Minister confirm that the majority of days lost in the 12 months ending 31 December 1983 were the result of unofficial disputes which were settled within two or three days by the intervention of full-time trade union officers? Is he aware that there is a great fear that the Trade Union Bill will prevent trade union officers from intervening in unofficial strikes and so worsen the position?

Mr. Gummer

The figures do not exist which would make that proved or unproved. However, there is no widespread fear of the sort that the hon. Gentleman has described. It is a fear that has been invented by the Opposition and pushed hard.