HC Deb 31 October 1994 vol 248 cc935-6W
Mr. Ainger

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has imposed a request for a 90-day consultation period with the relevant trade unions at the Whitland and Longridge creameries following the announcement of 156 and 102 staff redundancies at the two creameries on 21 October.

Mr. Oppenheim

Statutory arrangements concerning redundancy consultation are set out in part IV, chapter II of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992. These arrangements provide for application to an industrial tribunal by a recognised trade union where it is alleged that the employer has not complied with the requirements.

Mr. Ainger

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the types of special reasons approved by his Department under the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 which set aside the requirement for 90 days' consultation with the relevant trade union when more than 100 staff were made redundant.

Mr. Oppenheim

It is for an industrial tribunal to determine whether there are "special circumstances" justifying an employer's failure fully to comply with the duty to consult trade union representatives about proposed redundancies.

Mr. Ainger

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment on what date he was informed by Dairy Crest that it intended to make 156 staff redundant at its Whitland creamery in Dyfed and 102 staff redundant at its Longridge creamery in Lancashire.

Mr. Oppenheim

Information contained in statutory redundancy notifications is supplied in confidence.

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