§ 19. Sir G. Nabarroasked the Secretary of State for Employment what increase in strikes and consequential days lost has occurred since publication of the Industrial Relations Bill.
§ Mr. BryanThe Industrial Relations Bill was published on 3rd December, 1970. My Department's statistics of industrial stoppages show the following estimates for the six months ending 31st January, 1971:
All the above figures are provisional.
United Kingdom Stoppages beginning in month Working days lost in all stoppages in progress in month 1970 August … … 290 530,000 September … … 371 770,000 October … … 289 1,662,000 November … … 240 1,598,000 December … … 110 304,000 1971 January … … 211 1,983,000
§ 24. Mr. Hayhoeasked the Secretary of State for Employment what recent representations have been made to him by the Trades Union Congress on the subject of the Industrial Relations Bill; and what replies he has sent.
§ Mr. R. CarrMy hon. Friend will be aware that since last October the Trades Union Congress have declined to enter into consultations with me on the Industrial Relations Bill. I regret therefore that I have not received any representations from them regarding possible amendments to the Bill.
§ 60. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether, in view of the fact that, in addition to the engineers, the boilermakers have announced their intention of holding strikes against the Government's Industrial Relations Bill, he will now agree to meet the unions concerned to discuss ways and means of preventing these strikes.
§ Mr. BryanI refer the hon. Member to the previous answer I gave to him on192W 18th February, 1971.— [Vol. 811, c. 540–541.]