HC Deb 20 April 1988 vol 131 cc469-70W
Mr. Martlew

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many appeals to industrial tribunals were made by workers living in the city of Carlisle in the years 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987; and what percentage of those workers were represented during the tribunal hearings.

Mr. Nicholls

The relevant statistics for residents within the Carlisle postal district are as follows:

Number of complaints heard by industrial tribunals Per cent of applicants represented at hearings
1983 21 48
1984 19 58
1985 68 99
1986 8 75
1987 15 80

Mr. Bright

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will introduce legislation to require claims for unfair dismissal to be made in writing to industrial tribunals and to be made available to the employers against whom complaint is made before the hearing.

Mr. Nicholls

The industrial tribunal rules of procedure already require this to be done.

Mr. Bright

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will introduce legislation to require claimants who fail in their applications to industrial tribunals for unfair dismissal to bear their own costs.

Mr. Nicholls

Parties to unfair dismissal cases generally bear their own costs, though under their rules of procedure industrial tribunals may order a party who has acted frivolously, vexatiously or otherwise unreasonably to pay the costs of the other party.