HC Deb 13 April 1970 vol 799 c175W
Mr. Edwin Wainwright

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what was the average number of working days lost through strikes per 1,000 persons employed in mining, manufacturing, construction and transport for the periods 1959 to 1963 and 1964 to 1968, respectively; how this average compared with those published in international statistics available to him for the United States of America, Belgium, France, Eire, Italy, Japan and Canada, respectively; and which figures excluded losses due to workers laid off at the same establishment.

Mr. Harold Walker

Following is the information:

Average for
1959–63 1964–68
United States of America* 1,106 1,122
Belgium† 202 186
France‡ 352 263
Ireland 416 1,240
Italy 1,170 1,006
Japan 368 196
Canada† 410 1,158
United Kingdom 292 232

Notes:

* Beginning 1960: including Alaska and Hawaii. Figures cover also electricity, gas and sanitary services.

† Preliminary figure for 1968.

‡ Average for 1964–67 only: 1968 figure not available.

Source: Employment and Productivity Gazette, November, 1969, page 1024.

Figures for Belgium, Canada, Italy and Japan exclude losses due to workers laid off at the same establishment.