§ Mr. Bishopasked the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has, with regard to European engineering industries, about the hours normally worked per week, the number of days' holiday and the hours worked per year in other member countries of the EEC compared with the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithThe following tables give the most comparable information available.
WEEKLY HOURS WORKED* IN THE MECHANICAL ENGINEERING INDUSTRY BY MANUAL WORKERS Country Period Hours Belgium … April 1972 42.0 France … March 1972 44.5 Germany … April 1972 43.1 Italy … April 1972 42.2 Luxembourg … April 1972 48.3 Netherlands … October 1971 44.0 Ireland … March 1972 43.4 United Kingdom … October 1972 42.7 * For countries other than the United Kingdom and Ireland the figures are for "hours offered" i.e. the hours offered by employers to their work-force Sources:
The "Six"—Statistiques Sociales No. 5, 1972.
Ireland—Irish Statistical Bulletin, September 1972.
United Kingdom—Department of Employment
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ANNUAL HOURS WORKED IN THE MECHANICAL ENGINEERING INDUSTRY BY MANUAL WORKERS Country Year Hours Belgium … … 1969 1,927 France … … 1969 2,057 Germany … … 1969 1,963 Italy … … 1969 1,842 Luxembourg … … 1969 2,074 Netherlands … … 1969 1,925 United Kingdom … … 1968 2,065 Sources:
The "Six"—Statistiques Sociales No. 3, 1971.
EEC Labour Costs Survey, 1969.
United Kingdom—Department of Employment, Labour Costs Survey. 1968.
HOLIDAY ENTITLEMENTS 1972—ADULT MANUAL WORKERS IN THE ENGINEERING INDUSTRY Country Minimum length of annual holiday (days) Number of paid Public Holidays Belgium … … 15 10 France … … 20 6–10 Germany … … 18 10–13 Italy … … 13 17 Luxembourg … … 16½ 10 Netherlands … … 17 7 Denmark … … 18 9½ Ireland … … 10 6 United Kingdom … … 16* 6 * Increased to 17 with effect from 1973. Source:
All except United Kingdom—Coventry and District Engineering Employers' Association (from Western European Metal Trades Employers' Organisation).
United Kingdom—Department of Employment