asked the Paymaster General how many working days were lost through industrial disputes per 1,000 employees in employment in each of the years 1974 to 1986; and what was the average figure for working days lost due to industrial disputes per 1,000 employees in employment (a) between February 1974 and April 1979, and (b) between May 1979 and the latest date for which figures are available.

The number of working days lost through stoppages of work due to industrial disputes per thousand employees in employment, in each of the years 1974 to 1986, is shown in the table below. For the periods February 1974 to April 1979 and May 1979 to December 1986, the annualised averages of working days lost per thousand employees in employment were 427 and 494 respectively.