HC Deb 25 March 2002 vol 382 cc623-4W
Mr. Andrew Turner

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many cases(a) her Department and (b) its agencies have defended in (i) industrial tribunals and (ii) the courts in each year since 1997; how many were concluded in their favour; and what the total cost to her Department of litigation was in each year. [41108]

Ms Rosie Winterton

In each year since 1997 the Lord Chancellor's Department (including the Court Service) has defended the following number of (new) cases:

(a) 1997–98:

  • 12 employment tribunal cases
  • 77 court cases.

(b) 1998–99:

  • 13 employment tribunal cases
  • 94 court cases.

(c) 1999–2000:

  • 26 employment tribunal cases
  • 81 court cases.

(d) 2000–01:

  • 26 employment tribunal cases
  • 80 court cases.

(e) 2001 to date:

  • 21 employment tribunal cases
  • 108 court cases.

Of the employment tribunal cases, only one case was concluded against the Department/Court Service which was in the year 2000 (the case having been issued in 1998). All the other cases (which are not on-going) were either successfully defended at trial (or on appeal), or withdrawn beforehand. Of those employment tribunal cases withdrawn, agreed compensation was paid in the following number of cases:

  • (a) 1997–98: one
  • (b) 1998–99: three
  • (c) 1999–2000: three
  • (d) 2000–01: one
  • (e) 2001 to date: two.

Of the other court cases, the vast majority of these were either struck out, disposed of summarily by the court, or settled on favourable terms. On the information readily available in the Department, in the last year there has been only one case in which the court has given judgment against the Department/Court Service.

In each year since 1997 the Public Guardianship Office (formerly the Public Trust Office) has defended the following number of (new) cases:

(a) 1997–98:

  • 0 employment tribunal cases
  • 0 court cases.

(b) 1998–99:

  • one employment tribunal case
  • five court cases.

(c) 1999–2000:

  • 0 employment tribunal cases
  • one court case.

(d) 2000–01:

  • three employment tribunal cases
  • 0 court cases.

(e) 2001 to date:

  • one employment tribunal case
  • 0 court cases.

Of the employment tribunal cases, none of these were concluded against the Public Trust/Guardianship Office and of the cases which were withdrawn, in only one case was agreed compensation paid (in 2000–01).

Of the other cases, in only one case was agreed compensation paid (in 2001).

Treasury Solicitor's costs (which includes Counsel's fees) for each year for cases1 involving the Lord Chancellor's Department, the Court Service and the PGO (formerly PTO) were:

  1. (a) 1997–98: £384,202
  2. (b) 1998–99: £512,568
  3. (c) 1999–2000: £589,242
  4. (d) 2000–01: £627,862
  5. (e) 2001 to date: £766,961.
1 These figures may include a small amount in relation to "non-litigious" work. It has not been possible in the time available to exclude any such amounts.