§ Mr. LevittTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects the backlog of claims to industrial tribunals in respect of pension rights for part-time workers to have been dealt with. [64234]
§ Mr. Ian McCartneyProgress on these pension cases has been stayed pending the outcome of a further referral to the European Court of Justice in January 1998. When the outcome of this referral is known, the cases will be processed in accordance with directions given by the Presidents of Employment Tribunals.
§ Mr. LevittTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many industrial tribunal claims relating to part-time workers' pension rights have been initiated since the European Court of Justice decision of September 1994; and how many have been settled. [64232]
§ Mr. Ian McCartneyFollowing the judgment of the European Court of Justice in September 1994 approximately 42,000 cases have been registered claiming part-time worker pension rights. The pension cases are not identified separately in the records of the Employment Tribunals, therefore, information is not available on the number of cases that have been settled.