HC Deb 29 March 1988 vol 130 cc436-7W
Mr. McAllion

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in theOfficial Report the number of working days lost in (a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom as a result of (i) accidents and illness at work and (ii) strike action in each year since 1978.

Mr. Nicholls

Table 1 shows the available information for the estimated number of days of certified incapacity resulting from compensated industrial accidents and prescribed diseases in Scotland and in Great Britain. This information is available only up to April 1983 when industrial injury benefit was effectively abolished.

Table 1
Year (June to May) Number of Days (millions)
Scotland Great Britain
1977–78 1.8 15.6
1978–79 1.7 15.5
1979–80 1.5 13.0
1980–81 1.3 10.9
1981–82 1.2 10.8
11982–83 1.0 9.5
1 Year ending 31 March 1983

Table 2 shows the number of working days lost due to industrial disputes in Scotland and Great Britain.

Table 2
Number of Days (thousands)
Year Scotland Great Britain
1978 886 9,141
1979 3,268 28,744
1980 1,447 11,915
1981 599 4,197
1982 634 5,216

Number of Days (thousands)
Year Scotland Great Britain
1983 308 3,675
1984 2,333 27,083
1985 681 6,362
1986 312 1,890
Notes:
1 The statistics relate to stoppages of work due to industrial disputes connected with terms and conditions of employment. Stoppages involving fewer than ten workers or lasting less than one day are excluded unless the total number of working days lost in the dispute is greater than 100.
2 The information is regularly published in the Department of Employment Gazette.

Figures for Northern Ireland are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.