HC Deb 20 February 1979 vol 963 cc110-1W
Mr. Scott-Hopkins

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the number of people prevented from working, or put on short-time working, as a consequence of industrial disputes in which they themselves were not involved, in each of the weeks since 1 January.

Mr. Harold Walker

Estimates of the number of people laid off as a result of the transport disputes are shown below. Figures before and after the dates shown are not available, but it is believed that virtually all of those who were so laid off will have been recalled by their employers by now. Figures for those who were not laid off but were on short-time working as a result of the disputes are not available.

Thursday 18 to Friday 19 January— 135,000 to 130,000
Monday 22 to Friday 26 January— 175,000 to 215,000
Monday 29 to Friday 2 February— 235,000 to 125,000
Monday 5 February— 85,000