Introduction Of A Costs Regime For Employment Tribunals

EDM number 260 in 2001-02, proposed by Joan Walley on 17/10/2001.

That this House congratulates the Government on providing the opportunity for widespread consultation on its consultation paper, Routes to Resolution: Improving Dispute Resolution in Great Britain; welcomes the stated aim that disputes should be settled where possible in the workplace; supports the objective that all employers should have procedures for handling disciplinary problems and employee grievances; expresses concern that proposals to charge fees for employment tribunals will deter applicants with well founded cases; expresses considerable concern that proposals for the losing party to pay the winner's costs as a matter of course or for the losing party to pay the winner's costs in so-called weak cases, combined with the ability of employment tribunals since 16th July 2001 to make on the spot awards of costs to a new maximum of ú10,000, will act as a massive further deterrent which will deny applicants effective protection of their statutory rights; and calls on the Government to review urgently the steps already taken and those currently proposed to introduce a costs regime for employment tribunals.

This motion has been signed by a total of 59 MPs.