HC Deb 06 March 1979 vol 963 cc671-2W
Mr. Wm. Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the occasions in the last 10 years when there was either a threat to strike or an actual strike by prison officers in Northern Ireland; and what were the reasons given for such action or threatened action.

Mr. Concannon

Prison officers in Northern Ireland have not taken full-scale strike action at any time during the past 10 years but have threatened or taken limited industrial action on the following occasionsIn Autumn 1974 they threatened to take limited industrial action for several reasons including lack of staff facilities, but did not do so. Between 7 October and 10 November 1978 they took industrial action in various forms in support of a claim for an increase in their daily emergency allowance.

I have no record of occasions when, during the course of negotiations about pay and conditions of service, the Prison Officers' Association may have discussed possible industrial action.