§ Mr. Bestasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list for the years 1976, 1977 and 1978 the number of man days lost in the United Kingdom due to (a) alcohol, (b) other sickness and (c) strikes.
§ Mr. Prentice[pursuant to his reply, 6 July 1979, c. 770–71]: For the year 172W ending 3 June 1978 the total number of days of certified incapacity for work—including those attributable to alcohol—in the United Kingdom was 419.4 million.
I regret that the totals given in col (2) of my reply of 6 July 1979 were incorrect. The table should be read as follows:
Year Days of certified incapacity for work* United Kingdom Working days lost because of industrial disputes in progress during the year* (1) (2) (3) Millions Millions 1975 340.7 6.0 1976 Not available 3.3 1977† 384.9 10.1 1978‡ 419.4 9.3 * Figures in column (2) are for all days (including those attributable to alcohol) in the statistical year ending in June. In column (3) figures are for the calendar year. † Includes 34.3 million days for non-contributory invalidity pension introduced in November 1975. ‡ Includes 36.5 million days for non-contributory invalidity pension.