§ Mr. SayeedTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will estimate the cost to companies of their being required to submit testimony in person at industrial tribunals. [25305]
§ Mrs. BeckettThe most recent Survey of Industrial Tribunal Applications collected information on the total costs for employers responding to Industrial Tribunal cases (1992 Survey of Industrial Tribunal Applications: Trelett and Banerji—Employment Department, February 1994). This did not differentiate between the costs of attending a hearing and other costs. The overall median478W total cost was £1,486, although this varied greatly between cases and organisations and included all costs incurred including attending a hearing, legal advice etc. The Third Survey of Industrial Tribunal Applications, which will be carried out during this year, will allow a better breakdown of the costs to both parties.