Captain CROOKSHANKasked the Minister of Labour how many disputes involving a stoppage of work have taken 2354W place in Great Britain since the passage into law of the Trades Disputes and Trades Unions Act, 1927; and whether he can give comparable figures for a similar period preceding its passage?
§ Mr. BETTERTONThe following Table shows the number of disputes involving stoppages of work begun in Great Britain from the passage of the Trade Disputes and Trade Union Act, 1927, up to the end of March, 1929; the number of workpeople involved in these disputes; and the number of working days lost by these workpeople; together with corresponding figures for a similar period before the passage of the Act:
— From passage of Act to end of March, 1929. Similar period before passage of Act. Number of disputes begun. 473 523 Number of workpeople involved in those disputes. 190,000 2,820,000 Number of working days lost in those disputes. 1,860,000 162,170,000 Small disputes involving less than 10 workpeople or lasting less than one working day are not included in these figures.
The figures in the last column include 2,630,000 workpeople involved in the "General Strike" and the general coal stoppage of 1926, and 160,200,000 working days lost by such workpeople in those disputes.