asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) how the figures for absenteeism in the steel industry in the United Kingdom compare with those in the Federal Republic;(2) if he will compare the absenteeism rates in several industries, including steel, coal mining, chemicals motor car and railways.

The British Steel Corporation and the National Coal Board have published figures relating to their own employees, but comparable figures are not readily available for other industries in the United Kingdom or for the steel industry in Germany and could only be collected at disproportionate cost.