§ Peter BottomleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) at the employment tribunal hearing of the claim by WPC Kaur, how many days were taken(a) by the claimants' case and (b) by the response on her behalf; when the judgment is expected; and if she will instruct the Royal Park Constabulary not to stop paying WPC Kaur before the judgment is given; [15283]
(2) if she (a) instructed him not to and (b) was informed that the former head of the Royal Parks Constabulary did not give oral evidence on her behalf in the employment tribunal case of WPC Kaur. [15284]
§ Dr. Howells[holding answer 15 November 2001]: Responsibility for the subject of these questions has been delegated to the Royal Parks Agency under its chief executive, William Weston. I have asked him to arrange for replies to be given.
Letter from William Weston to Mr. Peter Bottomley, dated 16 November 2001]:
I have been asked by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to reply to your Parliamentary Questions about the tribunal involving PC Kaur because this is an operational matter that is the responsibility of the Royal Parks Agency.The industrial tribunal sat on a number of days between 24th September and 17th October. During that time the presentation of the claimant's case took six and a half days and the case for the Secretary of State took five and a half days. No indication was given as to when a judgement will be forthcoming.The former Chief Officer of the Royal Parks was not called to give evidence. The former Deputy Chief Officer was due to give evidence but was unable to do so because he was unwell. We would not expect to inform the Secretary of State about such a detail of the proceedings unless it was of particular significance.The question of how PC Kaur is paid is not related to the period of the tribunal. We have been paying her according to the procedures for paying all staff in the Agency (and the Royal Parks Constabulary) who are absent from work through sickness and we will continue to pay her on this basis, regardless of when the judgement of the tribunal is made known.