§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the costs to his Department occasioned by industrial tribunal cases concerning allegations of unfair dismissal by service women dismissed from the services on the ground of pregnancy; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HanleyIt is not possible to estimate what the cost will be to the Ministry of Defence of sex discrimination cases referred to industrial tribunals by service women dismissed on grounds of pregnancy between August 1978, 705W when the EC equal treatment directive came into force, and August 1990, when the policy of compulsorily discharging pregnant service women was discontinued. Those service women eligible for compensation who are dissatisfied with the amount offered by the Department are entitled to apply to industrial tribunals for determination of their claims.
§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the number of service women dismissed by the services on the ground of pregnancy in(a) the Royal Navy, (b) the Army and (c) the Royal Air Force in each of the past 20 years; and if he will make a statement.
Female officers Non-commissioned females Financial year Royal Navy Army Royal Air Force Royal Navy Army Royal Air Force Total 1973–74 5 9 11 129 287 260 701 1974–75 7 6 12 92 222 214 553 1975–76 6 11 11 91 202 186 507 1976–77 7 10 9 111 222 145 504 1977–78 5 10 4 85 187 121 412 1978–79 3 10 7 37 173 136 366 1979–80 4 13 7 55 174 162 415 1980–81 6 13 13 72 185 179 468 1981–82 11 21 23 84 250 186 575 1982–83 8 15 16 95 208 186 528 1983–84 5 9 12 103 179 161 469 1984–85 6 14 12 113 195 175 515 1985–86 6 13 15 100 226 156 516 1986–87 6 10 18 104 176 151 465 1987–88 7 15 16 125 205 186 554 1988–89 3 12 18 86 143 160 422 1989–90 4 14 15 84 157 157 431 1990–911 1 7 5 25 69 51 158 1 Figures for 1990–91 reflect the introduction of maternity leave in August 1990. The Ministry of Defence is offering compensation to women dismissed from the services on pregnancy following an agreed order of the High Court applying EC Directive 76/207—the equal treatment directive. Those eligible to claim compensation were dismissed between August 1978, when the equal treatment directive came into force, and August 1990, when the policy of compulsorily discharging pregnant service women was discontinued. The total number of potential claimants is estimated at 5,700.