HC Deb 18 February 1971 vol 811 cc539-40W
Mr. Sillars

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the number of production days lost in industry from 1960 to 1970 due to inter-union recognition disputes, stating what percentage these represent of the total days lost due to industrial action.

Mr. Bryan

Separate figures for this particular category of stoppage for the period quoted are not available and could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Bishop

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the final number of days lost to industry in 1970 in respect of strikes, lockouts, industrial accidents and illness given in major categories, including influenza, and rheumatism, broken down by sex.

Mr. Bryan

The provisional total of working days lost in 1970 as a result of stoppages of work due to industrial disputes in the United Kingdom is 10,970,000. Final figures will not become available until May.

The following is the latest available information relating to days of incapacity notified for national insurance purposes in Great Britain

DAYS OF CERTIFIED INCAPACITY* YEAR ENDING 31ST MAY, 1969
Days (millions)
Sickness Males Females
Mental, psycho-neurotic and personality disorders 21 10
Diseases of the nervous system and sense organs 16 5
Diseases of the circulatory system 37 6
Diseases of the respiratory system:
Influenza 13 3
Bronchitis 33 4
Other 22 7
Diseases of the digestive system 18 4
Diseases of the bones and other organs of movement:
Rheumatism 4 1
Arthritis and spondylitis 11 4
Other 10 2
Accidents and poisonings other than those which attracted benefit under the Industrial Injuries Acts 24 4
All other causes 46 25
All causes 255 74
Industrial Injury
Industrial accidents and prescribed industrial diseases 20 3
* Days of incapacity following termination of injury benefit are included under sickness.