§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Employment, in England, Scotland and Wales respectively, how many pre-hearing assessments were applied for by (a) claimants and (b) respondents and how many were held on the initiative of industrial tribunals during such period since the introduction of these procedures in respect of which records are available; in how many cases applications were rejected and what percentage this represents; where pre-hearing assessments were held, how many and what percentage of cases in each of the foregoing categories were rejected; and in how many and what percentage of those cases not rejected the claimants proceeded.
§ Mr. WaddingtonRecords of pre-hearing assessments held in(a) England and Wales and (b) Scotland, are available for the period 1 October 1980 to 31 January 1981. No information is readily available as to the number of requests for PHAs refused by the tribunals during this period. Statistics for Wales are not recorded separately.
Details of PHAs called during the period are as follows:
England and Wales Scotland On initiative of applicant 2 — On initiative of respondent 136 5 On initiative of tribunals 198 8 Total 336 13 The tribunals are not empowered to "reject"—that is refuse—a full hearing for cases which are called to a PHA. A warning may be given, however, that in the opinion of the tribunal a party has no reasonable prospect of success if he proceeds.