§ Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many cases against his Department, the agencies for which it is responsible and its predecessor organisations have been brought to employment tribunals in each year since 1997 in relation to(a) equal pay, (b) sex discrimination, (c) race discrimination, (d) disability discrimination and (e) unfair dismissal; how many cost awards were made against (i) respondents and (ii) applicants; and how much has been spent (A) settling and (B) contesting claims. [181473]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeMy Department is committed to embedding diversity and equality into its employment policies and practices.
92WThe number of employment tribunal cases against my Department is set out as follows:
Equal pay Sex discrimination Race discrimination Disability discrimination Unfair dismissal 2002 1 1 — — 2003 — 1 13 2 2004 3 — 1 1 Total 4 2 4 3 1 Two cases included unfair dismissal. Information before these years in the form requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
There were no awards made against my Department during the years quoted, however, applicants did receive out of court settlements totalling £26,356. The cost for contesting claims during the years quoted totalled just over £99,500.