HC Deb 30 July 1974 vol 878 cc135-6W
Mr. Ralph Howell

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how long the present disruption to the supply of the OFFICIAL REPORT has been going on; on how many occasions since January 1970 the OFFICIAL REPORT has been delayed and if he will list these occasions; how many working days have been lost by the printers working on the OFFICIAL REPORT; and how many printers are involved.

Mr. Robert Sheldon

The present disruption to the supply of the OFFICIAL REPORT caused by an industrial dispute at the Parliamentary Printing Press has been going on since 3rd July. The number of occasions since January 1972 that the OFFICIAL REPORT has been delayed is 127–44 occasions in 1972, 49 occasions in 1973 and 34 occasions in 1974.

I regret that similar information for earlier years is not available.

The time lost since 3rd July by the printers working on the OFFICIAL REPORT is 12 days and 13 nights.

The number of staff involved is 225, comprising 97 day-shift workers and 128 night-shift workers.