HC Deb 26 October 1982 vol 29 cc360-1W
Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) in how many cases relating to unfair dismissals heard by industrial tribunals in each complete year since 1980 and so far in 1982 the grounds for dismissal of the employee have included a reference to trade union activities; and in how many other cases the dismissed employee has claimed that such activities were the reasons for dismissal;

(2) how many cases of unfair dismissal before industrial tribunals where the grounds for dismissal related to trade union activity were upheld in each complete year since 1979; and how many there have been so far in 1982.

Mr. Waddington:

Because of past problems over the accuracy of data, precise information on the number of complaints of unfair dismissal on grounds of trade union membership and activities is not available. The following figures should therefore be treated with considerable caution:

Unfair dismissal complaints on grounds of trade union membership or activities
Complaints made Tribunal hearings Complaints upheld
1979 545 263 33
1980 621 255 34
1981 250 82 18

No comparable figures for any part of 1982 are available. Steps have now been taken to remedy the past deficiencies in the collection of these data.

Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many unfair dismissal cases before industrial tribunals have been won by the dismissed employee in each complete year since 1979 and so far in 1982; and what proportion of total unfair dismissal cases this represents in each year.

Mr. Waddington:

The information requested is shown in the following table. Figures for 1982 are not yet available:

Year Complaints upheld by Industrial Tribunals Percentage of cases heard
1979 3,187 27.2
1980 2,778 27.7
1981 3,134 23.3

Forward to