asked the Minister of Labour, how many of the 2,884,000 working days lost through strikes in the year ended 30th September, as compared with 2,379,000 in the previous year, were due to official and unofficial strikes, respectively; how many were in the nationalised industries; in view of the fact that wages are higher than a year ago, what were the main causes of these strikes; and what he is doing to prevent their repetition.
Certain stoppages are known to have been official but it is not known whether the remainder were unofficial. Figures of stoppages known to be official are available but only on a calendar year basis. Of 2,277,000 days lost through all stoppages in 1964, about 700,000 were lost in stoppages known to have been official. The figures relate
Exchanges at 11th October, 1965 were 2,179, 652 and 155 respectively. An age analysis of the wholly unemployed for these age groups is made only twice a year. Information in respect of 12th July, 1965, is as follows:
to workers involved in the establishments concerned.
The total number of days lost in the year ended 30th September, 1965 in the nationalised industries, both as regards official and unofficial stoppages, was about 480,000. These figures also relate to workers involved in the establishments concerned.
The main causes of stoppages over the year ended 30th September, 1965 were:—
| Wages— | ||
| Claims for increases | 655 | stoppages |
| Other wage disputes | 571 | stoppages |
| Employment of particular classes or persons | 398 | stoppages |
| Other working arrangements rules and discipline | 706 | stoppages |
| 2,330 | ||
| Out of a total for all stoppages of 2,478. | ||
| Figures for 1965 are provisional. | ||
The hon. Member will be aware of the efforts which my Ministry is continually making to preserve industrial peace and of the special initiatives which have recently been taken to improve relations in the docks and the motor car industry, both of which have a heavy incidence of unofficial stoppages.