HC Deb 29 November 1974 vol 882 cc285-6W
Mr. David Steel

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the effect on Scotland of the strike of drivers and conductors in the Scottish Bus Group.

Mr. William Ross

Unofficial strikes by drivers and conductors of the Scottish Bus Group, which started on 18th November, have now spread to all depots except Alloa, Ardrishaig, Rothesay, Montrose, Elgin, Buckie, Huntly and those in the group's Highland area. On 28th November 8,864 workers were on strike and 491 still at work. Most people outside the four cities are thus left without bus services. I greatly regret the problems this has caused, though the indications I have are that those affected are for the most part successfully overcoming their difficulties, often no doubt at the cost of considerable personal inconvenience and effort.

The strike is in support of a demand by unofficial groups for an immediate increase in pay which is not in accord with the guidelines under the social contract

ORDINARY SUPPLEMENTARY BENEFIT RATES (INCLUDING RENT) AS A PERCENTAGE OF AVERAGE NET WEEKLY EARNINGS OF MALE MANUAL WORKERS IN OCTOBER*
Married Persons
Year Single householder Without children With 2 children (both aged under 5) With 4 children (two aged under 5 and two aged 5–10)
1954 … … … … 26.7 39.7 46.7 55.1
1955 … … … … 26.5 38.9 45.8 54.7
1956 … … … … 27.4 39.9 46.9 54.9
1957 … … … … 26.6 38.6 45.2 52.6
1958 … … … … 30.3 44.2 51.2 59.0
1959 … … … … 31.0 45.9 53.7 61.9
1960 … … … … 29.6 43.5 50.9 58.3
1961 … … … … 31.1 45.3 52.9 60.3
1962 … … … … 32.2 46.6 54.2 61.7
1963 … … … … 34.1 48.5 55.9 64.4
1964 … … … … 32.1 45.9 52.9 60.1
1965 … … … … 36.1 51.7 59.0 66.7
1966 … … … … 37.8 53.9 61.2 68.8
1967 … … … … 38.9 55.5 62.9 70.2
1968 … … … … 38.6 55.1 63.3 70.4
1969 … … … … 37.8 54.2 62.4 69.7
1970 … … … … 37.0 52.9 61.4 69.4
1971 … … … … 37.6 53.9 61.9 69.2
1972 … … … … 35.3 51.1 59.6 67.6
1973 … … … … 36.0 49.3 59.3 65.7
* Taken from inquiries conducted by the Department of Employment.

since the present agreement does not expire until 28th February. An official claim by the union side is under consideration by the National Council for the Omnibus Industry and the employers' response will, I understand, be made at the council's next meeting on 2nd December. In these circumstances I ask those on strike to return to work immediately to enable their own union to negotiate on their behalf.