§ Mr. PageTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many employment tribunals involving Post Office Counters are awaiting hearing; how many employment tribunal cases are unresolved in the Manchester area; and what steps he is taking to resolve these cases. [157004]
422W
§ Mr. Hain[holding answer 27 March 2001]: The number of claimants awaiting their first assessment appointment to be made on 28 February 2001 was as follows:
2000 is not available. Of those claimants that had been mailed by 30 October 2000, the following numbers were awaiting their first assessment appointment to be made:
§ Mr. Alan Johnson[holding answer 5 April 2001]: I understand that there are currently 18 employment tribunal cases involving Post Office Counters Ltd. that are awaiting hearing. These concern either Post Office Counters Ltd.'s directly employed staff or subpostmasters and other agents. Post Office Counters Ltd.'s legal agents in Manchester are currently dealing with six cases in the North West. A further employment tribunal case in the Manchester area has gone to appeal. Legal decisions on how the law applies in particular circumstances are for the tribunals and courts.
§ Mr. PageTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the legal costs were for 2000 to Post Office Counters in representation at employment tribunals. [157005]
§ Mr. Alan Johnson[holding answer 5 April 2001]: Details of the legal costs of Post Office Counters Ltd. are commercially confidential, under Exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Public Information.