§ Sir Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if, pursuant to the recent judgments of the European Court and the decision of the industrial 614W tribunal in respect of the successful claims by a number of full-time and part-time women reserve constables of the Royal Ulster Constabulary that they had been discriminated against by the Chief Constable, he will publish in the Official Report (a) the date on which the first lawful complaint of discrimination was made by these women against the Chief Officer or the Police Authority for Northern Ireland, (b) the dates of the principal hearings before industrial tribunals and courts in Northern Ireland, (c) the date on which this issue was brought before the European Court and when it was concluded there and (d) the date of the final orders by the industrial tribunal awarding compensation to the women and costs against the Chief Constable.
§ Mr. ScottThe information is as follows:
- a. The first complaint was made to the industrial tribunal on 27 November 1980. Additional complaints were made subsequently by further parties.
- b. The principal hearings before the industrial tribunal took place on 28 May 1981, 1 September 1981, 31 December 1981, 21 May 1982, 10 August 1983, 8 August 1984, 28–30 January 1987, 2–5 February 1987 and 9 March 1987.
- Hearings before the High Court took place on 29 October 1982, 14 January 1983, 4 February 1983 and 11 February 1983.
- Hearings before the Court of Appeal took place on 31 May 1983 and 10 October 1983.
- c. The industrial tribunal decided on 8 August 1984 to refer the issue to the European Court of Justice. The court gave its final decision on 15 May 1986.
- d. No compensation orders were made by the industrial tribunal as agreement had already been reached with the Chief Constable. Costs were awarded against the Chief Constable on 9 March 1987.
§ Sir Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the recent industrial tribunal decision in respect of full-time and part-time women reserve police officers, what amount of compensation was ordered to be paid to each of these women in recognition of the discrimination the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary was adjudged to have inflicted upon them.
§ Mr. ScottNone. The tribunal was not called to make compensation orders, as agreement on levels of compensation had been reached between the Chief Constable and the applicants.
§ Sir Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if, in the light of the recent industrial tribunal decision in respect of full-time and part-time women reserve police officers, he will state what legal costs were ordered to be paid to each of these women.
§ Mr. ScottThe legal costs incurred in proceedings before the European court and the industrial tribunal were awarded against the Chief Constable of the RUC. The costs have not yet been finalised but I shall write to my hon. Friend when the information is available.