HC Deb 24 July 1967 vol 751 cc23-4W
Mr. Fowler

asked the Minister of Labour how many industrial tribunals for the hearing of appeals in relation to redundancy payments there are.

Mt. Hattersley

Industrial tribunals are appointed to sit as need arises. Each tribunal consists of a legally qualified chairman, and two members drawn from national panels appointed after consultation with the two sides of industry. By the end of June 1967 the tribunals had held sittings on 2,989 days in London and 24 other centres in England, Wales and Scotland, to deal with redundancy payment appeals and all other matters falling within their jurisdiction.

Mr. Fowler

asked the Minister of Labour how many claims have been made for redundancy payments since the Redundancy Payments Act became operative.

Mr. Hattersley

Between 6th December, 1965, when the Redundancy Payments Act came into operation, and 30th June, 1967, 267,622 employees have received redundancy payments. The number of unsuccessful claims is not known.

Mr. Fowler

asked the Minister of Labour how many appeals in relation to redundancy payments have been heard before industrial tribunals since these tribunals came into existence; and how many appeals were decided in favour of the applicant.

Mr. Hattersley

Up to 30th June, 1967, the industrial tribunals had registered 12,134 appeals relating to awards of redundancy payments and rebates from the Redundancy Fund. Of these, 7,549 have been heard by the tribunals and 1,722 settled without a hearing; decisions have not yet been made in the remaining 2,863 cases.

A detailed analysis of the results of appeals is not available, but a sample survey carried out at the end of 1966 showed that about 50 per cent. of the decisions were in favour of the applicant.