§ Sir Frederic Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many working hours were lost through industrial disputes in August, September and October 1973; and what are the comparable figures for each of the three months in 1974 since the introduction of the social contract.
§ Mr. BoothIn the official statistics, loss of time caused by industrial stoppages is measured in terms of working days. In August, September and October 1973 the number of working days lost were respectively 378,000, 699,000 and 702,000. For August and September 1974 provisional figures of working days lost are 517,000 and 985,000 respectively. Figures for October 1974 are not yet available.
The implementation of the social contract commenced when the Government took office in March this year.
§ Mr. Martenasked the Secretary of State for Employment of the 613,000 unemployed, how many are, (a) wholly unemployed for over eight weeks and (b) over the age of 60 years; and what is the number of job vacancies.
§ Mr. John FraserThe total of 613,000 is a revised figure for October, incorporating adjustments not made to the detailed analyses. Of the unrevised total—of 622,634–358,988 had been unemployed for over eight weeks.
240WStatistics of the unemployed analysed by age are available only for January and July each year. In July 1974, out of a total—unadjusted—of 573,625 unemployed, 94,806 were aged 60 and over.
Unfilled vacancies in October numbered 299,056 at employment offices and 76,463 at careers offices. The figures for a small proportion of offices are estimated. The vacancy figures relate only to vacancies notified to employment offices and careers offices and do not measure the total unsatisfied demand for labour.