HC Deb 08 February 1974 vol 868 cc430-3W
Mr. Cockeram

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many working days were lost due to industrial disputes in each year from 1963 to 1973;

(2) how many working days were lost in the mining industry due to industrial disputes in each year from 1963 to 1973, in each case giving the figure as a percentage of the total number of working days lost due to industrial disputes in that year.

Mr. Scott

Following is the information:

what was the number of days lost per 1,000 employees; and how the United Kingdom compares with each of the Common Market States, and with the United States of America, Japan, Canada, Australia, and Sweden.

Mr. Scott

Following is the information:

STOPPAGES OF WORK DUE TO INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES: UNITED KINGDOM WORKING DAYS LOST THROUGH ALL STOPPAGES IN PROGRESS
Year Total days lost Days lost per 1,000 employees
1961 3,046,000 150
1962 5,798,000 250
1963 1,755,000 80
1964 2,277,000 100
1965 2,925,000 125
1966 2,398,000 100
1967 2,787,000 125
1968 4,690,000 200
1969 6,846,000 300
1970 10,980,000 475
1971 13,551,000 600

1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966
Australia* 330 280 320‡ 480‡ 410‡ 360‡
Belgium 60 160 140 250 40 320
Canada 510 590 330 560 790 1,570
Denmark § 3,340 30 40 30 400 30
France 330 220 770 280 100 240
Federal Republic of Germany 30 140
Ireland 590 320 760 1,620 1,720 1,420
Italy 870 2,270 1,150 1,270 540 1,710
Japan 440 350 180 190 360 170
Netherlands 10 20 20 30 10
Sweden║ 10 10 110
United Kingdom 220 440 140 170 220 170
United States¶ 650 730 630 850 860 880
1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972
Australia* 320‡ 460‡ 860‡ 1,040‡ 1,300‡ 840
Belgium 90 230 100 840 720‡ 180
Canada 1,200 1,670 2,550 2,180 800 1,420
Denmark § 20 20 80 170 30 40
France 430 (a) 200 190 430 290
Federal Republic of Germany 30 20 10 340‡
Ireland 520 910 2,170‡ 490‡ 660 590
Italy 580 930 4,160‡ 1,730‡ 1,060‡ 1,680
Japan 100 160 200 200 310 270
Netherlands 10 10 140 50 70
Sweden║ 30 40 240
United Kingdom 220 370 520 740 1,130 2,080
United States¶ 1,430 1,590 1,390 2,210‡ 1,610 870
* Including electricity and gas, excluding communication.
† Preliminary figures.
‡ Revised figures.
§ Manufacturing only.
║ All industries included.
¶ Figures cover also electricity gas and sanitary services.
(a) Figures not available.

Note: Where no figure is given the number of days lost per 1,000 employed is less than five.

Year Total days lost Days lost per 1,000 employees
1972 23,909,000 1,100
1973* 7,173,000 325
*Provisional.

Comparative statistics for all industries and services in other countries are not available. An international comparison table, showing working days lost through industrial disputes per 1,000 employees in mining, manufacturing, construction and transport is published annually in the Department of Employment Gazette. The table includes all the countries referred to except Luxembourg. The figures are as follows:

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