HC Deb 03 December 1993 vol 233 cc840-1W
Mr. Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many industrial tribunal members are allocated to(a) Nottingham and (b) Leicester.

Miss Widdecombe

Nottingham region has 128 lay members. Of these, 76 mainly sit at Nottingham and 52 at Leicester. There are also four full-time chairmen, of whom three normally sit at Nottingham and one at Leicester. In addition, there are eight part-time chairmen who may sit in more than one location.

Mr. Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate he has made of the additional travelling costs of applicants to industrial tribunals following the transfer of the industrial tribunal to Nottingham from Leicester.

Miss Widdecombe

The location of the industrial tribunals is a matter for the president and I understand that estimates of the savings and costs, including travelling cost, of the various accommodation options are not yet available.

Mr. Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received in relation to the proposals to move the industrial tribunal from Leicester to Nottingham.

Miss Widdecombe

None. This is a matter for the President of the Industrial Tribunals (England and Wales).

Mr. Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whom he has consulted about the proposed relocation of the industrial tribunal from Leicester to Nottingham.

Miss Widdecombe

The location of the industrial tribunals is a matter for the President of the Industrial Tribunals to determine.

Mr. Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the estimated costs for the relocation of the industrial tribunal from Leicester to Nottingham.

Miss Widdecombe

I understand that no decision has yet been taken to relocate the Leicester office and that an estimate of possible costs is not yet available.

Mr. Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to move the industrial tribunal office in Leicester to Nottingham; and if he will make a statement.

Miss Widdecombe

Under the regulations governing the industrial tribunals, it is for the President of the Industrial Tribunals to determine where tribunals shall sit. However, I understand that the existing accommodation in both Nottingham and Leicester is unsatisfactory and that the president is considering a number of options for the future provision of tribunal facilities in the Nottingham region.

Mr. Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many cases the industrial tribunals in(a) Nottingham and (b) Leicester have heard in each of the last 10 years.

Miss Widdecombe

I regret that figures are only available for 1985 onwards. The details are as follows:

Nottingham Leicester
1985–86 357 304
1986–87 358 324
1987–88 412 290
1988–89 362 314
1989–90 346 298
1990–91 412 475
1991–92 624 520
1992–93 1,006 684