HC Deb 18 July 1994 vol 247 cc66-7W
Mr. Janner

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to increase the maximum awards which may be made to successful applicants by industrial tribunals.

Miss Widdecombe

Awards in cases of sex or race discrimination are not subject to an upper limit. We are considering the outcome of the annual review of the limits on other awards and will announce the decision as soon as possible.

Mr. Janner

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will now increase the financial resources available to industrial tribunals.

Miss Widdecombe

We have already done so. The financial resources allocated to industrial tribunals for 1994–95 have been increased over those for last year.

Mr. Janner

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the minimum, maximum and average waiting times for(a) unfair dismissal, (b) redundancy rights, (c) maternity rights, (d) race discrimination and (e) other claims in (i) England, (ii) Scotland and (iii) Wales; and what were the waiting times in 1979, 1989 and 1993.

Miss Widdecombe

No information is available for 1979 and information for 1989 and 1993 is not available in the form requested. The figures for 1989 and 1993, all jurisdiction, are shown in the following table:

Length of time for registered applications to come to first hearing
Percentage under (weeks)
12 20 26 30 36
England and Wales1
1989–90 44 75 85 n/a n/a
1993–94 14 38 54 63 75
12 20 26 30 36
Scotland
1989–90 43 85 91 n/a n/a
1993–94 5 65 80 86 91
1 Separate figures are not available for Wales.