§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases(a) his Department and (b) each of its agencies have defended in (i) industrial tribunals and (ii) the courts in each year since 1997; what proportion were concluded in their favour; and what the costs of cases fought were, including damages paid. [38033]
§ Beverley Hughes[holding answer 27 February 2002]: The information is given in the table. I am sorry for the delay in replying.
1199WThese figures show the arising amount and cost of litigation over the last five years. Around 2,500 cases were opened in the financial year 1997–8; over 3.500 have been opened to date in this financial year. The cost has arisen from roughly £7.5 million to £9.7 million. Prison Service litigation represents about a third of the total number of cases; while immigration judicial review covers about 90 per cent. of the judicial review cases which themselves form about two thirds of all the litigation.
While the rise in the number and cost of judicial review and personal injury cases has been about 50 per cent. over the past five years, in the employment field the cases have doubled and the costs have all but trebled. This matter is under active consideration by the Prison Service.