HC Deb 09 February 1984 vol 53 c721W
Rev. Ian Paisley

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many days' work have been lost as a result of industrial disputes in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Mr. Butler

The information is as follows:

Year Working days lost
1978 263,500
1979 730,100
1980 49,400
1981 69,200
1982 96,900

Note: Statistics for 1983 are not yet available.

Rev Ian Paisley

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many industrial stoppages there have been in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; and how many workers have been affected by them.

Mr. Butler

The information is as follows:

Year Number of stoppages* Number of workers affected
1978 58 15,200
1979 71 124,300
1980 50 11,800
1981 38 43,600
1982 40 46,800
* Stoppages involving fewer than 10 workers or lasting less than one day are excluded except where the aggregate of working days lost exceeded 100.

Note: Statistics for 1983 are not yet available.

Department 1 May 1979 Department 1 December 1982 1 December 1983
Agriculture 5,211 Agriculture 4,616 4,608
Commerce 783 Economic Development 2,890 2,812
Manpower Services 2,280
Environment 9,797 Environment 10,353 10,031
Education 671 Education 562 556
Health and Social Services 5,720 Health and Social Services 6,019 5,900