HC Deb 18 December 1984 vol 70 cc112-3W
63. Mr. Roy Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will seek a meeting with the general secretary of the Trades Union Congress to consider fresh conciliation measures to settle the dispute in the mining industry.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

My right hon. Friend and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy met the general secretary and other representatives of the Trades Union Congress on 14 December. The Government wish to see an early and constructive settlement to this dispute, but until the NUM shows a genuine desire to reach such a settlement we cannot see any fresh conciliation attempts being successful.

64. Mr. Andrew MacKay

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the effect on employment of the industrial dispute in parts of the coal industry.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

All strikes put employment at risk. In the short term output is lost and orders go to competitors. In the longer term customer confidence may be irreparably damaged. Apart from the effects on the industry itself, the coal dispute is affecting employment throughout the economy, partly because of its general effects on interest rates and market confidence.

The individual causes of changes in the level of employment cannot be identified in the Department's statistics. However, the Association of British Mining Equipment Companies has estimated that if the dispute continues into next year, the work force employed by its members and their subcontractors will have been substantially reduced through redundancies and short-time working.

Sir Hector Monro

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people in Scotland, and in which travel-to-work areas, have lost employment as a result of the miners' strike.

Mr. Alan Clark

All strikes put employment at risk. In the short term, output is lost and orders go to competitors. In the longer term customer confidence may be irreparably damaged. Apart from the effects on the industry itself, the coal dispute is affecting employment throughout the economy, partly because of its general effects on interest rates and market confidence.

However, the individual causes of changes in the level of employment cannot be identified in the Department's statistics and it is not possible to assess any effects particular to Scotland.