§ Mr. Brightasked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received on the character of allegations made by dismissed former employees to industrial tribunals; and whether he is prepared to consider measures to inhibit the presentation of false allegations.
928W
§ Mr. NichollsI have received representations on this subject from the chairman and chief executive of Britannia Airways.
Industrial tribunals possess wide powers to govern the conduct of the hearings and the submission of evidence. They may require witnesses to give evidence on oath and normally do so. Such evidence is subject to the Perjury Act 1911 and I do not consider that additional powers are needed.
§ Mr. Brightasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many cases of unfair dismissal have been brought by former employees before industrial tribunals in each of the years since 1983; and how many of them have been withdrawn during the proceedings.
§ Mr. NichollsThe number of cases heard was as follows:
Number January to December 1984 7,578 January to Marchl985 2,112 April 1985 to March 1986 9,270 April 1986 to March 1987 9,287 Approximately 70 per cent. of all applications registered with the tribunals do not proceed to a hearing. Some are withdrawn and many are settled by ACAS. Precise details on the number of cases withdrawn during proceedings is not available.