HC Deb 16 January 2003 vol 397 c738W
Andrew George

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many working days have been lost in her Department and its predecessors due to industrial action in(a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99, (c) 1999–2000, (d) 2000–01, (e) 2001–02 and (f) 2002–03. [90245]

Alun Michael

During 2001–02 16,201 days were lost owing to industrial action by members of staff in the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and its Agencies.

During 2002–03 to date 205 days were lost owing to industrial action by staff at the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) who are members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) and Prospect unions.

During 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000, and 2000–01, neither the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and food and its Agencies nor the sections of ex-DETR now part of Defra and their Agencies, lost any working days through industrial action by staff.