asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the average number of days lost in strikes in 1971 per 1,000 employed persons in Scot- land, England and Wales, respectively, and also in the vehicle construction industry, the mining industry, shipbuilding, engineering and steel manufacture.

At present 1971 figures are available only for the United Kingdom as a whole. I will, however, send my hon. Friend the detail in due course.The numbers of working days lost in 1971 per 1,000 employees are: motor vehicles, 6,050; coal mining, 175; shipbuilding and marine engineering, 2,800; engineering, 600; and metal manufacture. 600; all industries and services, 600.