HC Deb 12 March 1980 vol 980 cc559-60W
Mr. Sproat

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the number of persons laid off, or made redundant, in Scotland, as a result of union instructions not to cross picket lines, because of the steel strike.

Mr. Younger

The pattern of picketing is not constant from day to day and it is impossible accurately to assess the numbers of people who might be laid off at any time as a result. There have been a number of job losses in Scotland this year in steel-using industry but it is not possible to estimate the proportion of these which are properly attributable to the results of picketing, to the effect of the

Deaths from Malignant Neoplasm of Trachea, Bronchus and Lung, Scotland, 1969–1978
Year Both Sexes Males Females
1969 3,277 2,722 555
1970 3,443 2,815 628
1971 3,416 2,773 643
1972 3,573 2,862 711
1973 3,637 2,933 704
1974 3,740 2,933 807
1975 3,650 2,915 735
1976 3,817 3,011 806
1977 3,696 2,806 890
1978 4,015 2,998 1,017

steel dispute as a whole, or to other economic factors.

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