§ Mr. Batisteasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many awards of compensation for unfair dismissal have been made by industrial tribunals against employers employing fewer than 20 people in each of the past three years;
(2) if he will list the average and the highest awards of damages for unfair dismissal made by industrial tribunals against employers employing fewer than 20 people in the most recent period of 12 months for which records are available.
§ Mr. GummerTotal figures are not available. however on the basis of a 10 per cent. sample analysis of complaints of unfair dismissal for the last three calendar years, it is estimated that the following number of awards against employers of 20 or fewer employees were made:
Year Number of awards 1980 810 1981 720 1982 830 The average — mean — award of compensation for unfair dismissal made against the 83 employers in the sample in 1982 employing 20 or fewer employees was £1,232.43, the highest award being £6,365.
These figures should be treated with caution, in particular because of the difficulties in ascertaining the size of firms.
§ Mr. Batisteasked the Secretary of State for Employment What representations he has received concerning the possible levels of awards of compensation for unfair dismissal against small business and the effect that such compensation awards can have on such businesses.
§ Mr. GummerOne organisation representing mainly small businesses, which was consulted in the context of the recent annual review of limits carried out in accordance with the provisions of section 148 of the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978, asked that there should be no increase because of the additional burden on employers. We have received no representations on this question outside this context.