HC Deb 22 January 1970 vol 794 cc169-70W
Mr. Bishop

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity the number of days lost to industry in respect of strikes, lock-outs, industrial accidents and illness given in major categories, including influenza and rheumatism, broken down by sex.

Mr. Harold Walker

Following is the latest information available for comparable dates:

STOPPAGES OF WORK DUE TO INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES (UNITED KINGDOM)
Working days lost in all stoppages in progress
Year ending 31st May, 1968 4,748,000

SICKNESS AND INDUSTRIAL INJURY (GREAT BRITAIN)
Days of certified incapacity
Year ending 1st June, 1968 (provisional):
Sickness 328 million
Industrial injury 23 million
Days of incapacity due to sickness and industrial injury are analysed below a groups of illness:

Days (million)
Males Females
Sickness
Mental, psycho-neurotic and personality disorders 20 10
Diseases of the nervous system and sense organs 19 5
Diseases of the circulatory system 32 6
Diseases of the respiratory system:
Influenza 12 3
Other 53 11
Diseases of the digestive system 21 5
Diseases of the bones and other organs of movement:
Rheumatism 4 1
Other 20 6
Accidents and poisonings other than those which attracted benefit under the Industrial Injuries Acts 23 4
All other causes 47 26
Industrial Injury
Accidents and prescribed industrial diseases 21 3

Note:

It is to be noted that the Department of Health and Social Security has information only about incapacity notified for the purpose of claiming benefit and contribution credits under the National Insurance Acts. Spells of incapacity lasting less than four days do not usually attract benefit or a credit and are not normally reported to the Department. The Department does not know about the sickness absence from work of married women and widows who have chosen not to be insured for sickness benefit; not does it know about any absence of non-industrial civil servants who do not normally claim benefit during the first six months of an illness. The days of sickness include a substantial number which relate to people who have been sick for a very long time. Days of incapacity following the termination of injury benefit are shown under sickness.