§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many strikes took place each month since January 1969; and how many in each case lasted less than one week, one but less than two weeks, two but less than three weeks, three but less than five weeks, five but less than 10 weeks and 10 weeks or longer.
§ Mr. Chichester-ClarkThe number of stoppages of work due to industrial disputes beginning each month are published in the Department of EmploymentGazette in Table 133 of the regular statistical time series. Information about the duration of these stoppages, which is available only on an annual basis and not in precisely the duration bands requested, follows:
DURATION OF STOPPAGES OF WORK DUE TO INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM Stoppages beginning in Not more than 6 days Over 6 and not more than 12 days Over 12 days Totals 1969 2,486 347 283 3,116 1970 2,922 476 508 3,906 1971 1,604 287 337 2,228 1972 1,629 359 509 2,497 Figures for 1973 on the above basis are expected to be published in the May 1974 issue of the Gazette. Although not on a comparable basis, figures are published each month in the Gazette giving provisional information on the duration of stoppages ending in the previous month.
Following is the information for the year 1973:
Stoppages ending in Month Not more than 6 days Over 6 days and not more than 12 days Over 12 days Totals January 108 21 13 142 February. 155 35 24 214 March 174 23 31 228 April 136 31 18 185 May 139 28 33 200 June 150 39 40 229 July 108 25 23 156 August 133 32 16 181 September. 104 38 42 184 October 201 33 37 271 November 189 47 41 277 December 53 16 28 97