HC Deb 14 February 1989 vol 147 c150W
49. Mr. Hunter

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will seek to amend section 53 of the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978 so that in all circumstances a dismissed employee has the right to be provided with a written statement, giving the reasons for his/her dismissal.

Mr. Nicholls

No. To do so would add to the burdens on employers. A written statement of reasons for dismissal is intended to enable a worker to assess whether he/she has grounds for complaining of unfair dismissal to an industrial tribunal. Originally the qualifying period for both rights was the same. The current Employment Bill seeks to restore that position by increasing the qualifying period for a written statement to two years.