HC Deb 29 October 2003 vol 412 cc260-2W
Mr. Hepburn

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many employment tribunal cases there were in(a) south Tyneside, (b) Tyne and Wear, (c) the north-east and (d) the UK in each year since 1997. [134858]

Mr. Sutcliffe

The following table shows the number of tribunal applications registered by the Employment Tribunals Service in the UK since 1997. Statistical information for the geographical areas of south Tyneside, Tyne and Wear and the north-east is not readily accessible and could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

Registered tribunal applications
2002–03 98,617
2001–02 112,227
2000–01 130,408
1999–2000 103,935
1998–99 91,913
1997–98 80,435
1996–97 88,910

Mr. Hepburn

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the average amount of an employment tribunal cost award was in(a) south Tyneside, (b) Tyne and Wear, (c) the north-east and (d) the UK in each year since 1997. [134859]

Mr. Sutcliffe

The following table shows the average amount of an employment tribunal cost award in the UK since 1997. We are unable to supply the average amount of an employment tribunal cost award for south Tyneside, Tyne and Wear and the north-east.

£
Average cost award
2002–03 1,524
2001–02 983
2000–01 295
1999–2000 1,155
1998–99 743
1997–98 546

Mr. Hepburn

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the average award for compensation in employment tribunal cases has been in(a) south Tyneside, (b) Tyne and Wear, (c) the north-east and (d) the UK in each year since 1997. [134860]

Mr. Sutcliffe

The Employment Tribunals Service only collects compensation statistics for tribunal cases covering the jurisdictions of unfair dismissal, race discrimination, sex discrimination and disability discrimination. Therefore, the figures quoted in the following table illustrate the average award for compensation in employment tribunal cases for the UK since 1997 in relation to the aforementioned complaints. We are unable to supply separate information for south Tyneside, Tyne and Wear and the north-east.

£
Average compensation award
2002–03 7,598
2001–02 7,306
2000–01 5,764
1999–2000 5,734
1998–99 4,449
1997–98 4,894

Mr. Hepburn

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many employment tribunal cost awards have been made against(a) respondents and (b) applicants in (i) south Tyneside, (ii) Tyne and Wear, (iii) the north-east and (iv) the UK in each year since 1997. [134861]

Mr. Sutcliffe

The following table illustrates how many employment tribunal cost awards have been made against respondents and applicants in the UK in the last two financial years. The Employment Tribunals Service did not breakdown the statistics for applicants and respondents prior to 2001–02. We are unable to supply information for south Tyneside, Tyne and Wear and the north-east.

Costs awards against respondent Costs awards against applicant
2002–03 307 691
2001–02 169 467