§ Mr. Spriggsasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many disputes in industry have been settled without recourse to strike or lock-out action, as a result of his Department's conciliation and arbitration services; how many strikes and lock-outs have been brought to an end as a result of his Department's conciliation service to each side of industry; and if he can give examples of either situation.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerConciliation and arbitration services are now provided by the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, which is independent of my Department. In the first 16 months of its existence, up to 31st December 1975 the ACAS helped to settle 2,123 disputes, in 1,415 of which there was no recourse to industrial action. 708 had involved strikes or other industrial action.
Some examples are given in the ACAS first annual report 1975, published in April 1976 by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, copies of which are available in the Library.