§ Lord Christopherasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many appeals have been decided by the English and Scottish Employment Appeal Tribunals for each year during the past five years. [HL3989]
§ The Minister for Science, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville)
Period England/Wales Scotland Total 1995–96 1,330 110 1,440 1996–97 1,419 82 1,501 1997–98 1,266 92 1,358 1998–99 1,240 83 1,323 1999–2000 1,264 70 1,334 Number of appeals disposed of by financial year and geographical location.
Source: Employment Tribunals Service
§ Lord Christopherasked Her Majesty's Government:
What has been the average annual period of time within which appeals have been determined by the English and Scottish Employment Appeal Tribunals during each of the last five years. [HL3990]
§ Lord Sainsbury of Turville
Hearing Type July 1996 July 1997 July 1998 July 1999 July 2000 Prelim1 — — 4 4 6 Full 8 5 6 8 12 Average length of time (in months) from receipt of the appeal to date of hearing for appeals at the end of each judicial year—England and Wales 1 Figures for the length of time taken to reach a preliminary hearing are not available for 1996 and 1997. The Employment Tribunals Service does not hold the information requested on the average periods of time in which appeals are determined. However, the above table is an indication of the length of time at the end of each judicial year that appeals were taking from receipt until a preliminary hearing and, where required, a full hearing.
Due to the smaller number of appeals dealt with in Scotland, the average length of time taken for cases to reach a full hearing is four months. It is not the practice of the Employment Appeal Tribunal in Scotland to hold preliminary hearings.
67WA
§ Lord Christopherasked her Majesty's Government:
What period of time they consider to be reasonable within which the Employment Appeal Tribunals should determine appeals. [HL3991]
§ Lord Sainsbury of TurvilleThe Employment Appeal Tribunal seeks to ensure that appeals will come either to a preliminary or a full hearing within four and eight months respectively. However, due to the complexity of individual appeals and the need for proper judicial consideration, it is not possible to ensure specific periods of time are achieved in individual cases if justice is to be done.